BWW Reviews: UNNECESSARY FARCE at Actors' Playhouse

There were tears pouring down my cheeks, misting my Ray Bans (image is all) as I left the Balcony Theatre at Actors' Playhouse, Coral Gables. It happened twice; at the intermission and at the end of the show. And those tears filling my drool channels were tears of joy. No lies.

Actors' Artistic Director David Arisco has picked a farce for the last show of their season.

And what a pick it is. Written by actor Paul Slade Smith, UNNECESSARY FARCE has had over 165 productions. It's easy to see why.

Two identical motel rooms, two double beds, eight doors, two cops, one body guard, one hit man, one city mayor, his wife, and the requisite babe in her underwear. What could be better? Nothing, actually. The script is clever, it's funny, and it gives the terrific cast every opportunity to flash their comic chops. And flash they do.

The plot, if you really care, concerns two undercover cops planting a camera in an aspidistra (if it wasn't, it should've been) in the next room so they can film the mayor meeting with his accountant. That's all you need to know.

Chris Crawford is the bumbling undercover cop Eric who can't keep his pants on and is scared of pretty much everything, except, perhaps, climbing all over city accountant Karen, played by Katherine Amadeo, who spends most of the evening stripping down to her undie duds for Eric. And for suave Agent Frank (Cliff Burgess). And for Highland Hit Man, Todd, (Jim Ballard) and well, just because she's hot. Jessica Brooke Sanford is Billie, Eric's really eager rookie partner who wears her uniform while undercover.

Mayor Meekly is played by Allen Baker and his wife, Mary Meekly, is played by Elizabeth Dimon. Both are perfectly cast, he as the small town politician and she as his surprising wife.

David Arisco directed at a frantic pace; no flat spots in two hours of door slamming, bed bundling and general chaos.

Every scene in this show is laugh out loud funny, even for me, confirmed grouch. I'll long remember the towering Highland Hit Man, Todd, in full Scottish regalia including the huge black bearskin hat. His brogue, unlike his kilt, is impenetrable and Billie's translations about the back up bagpipes in the bag in the boot are a wonder.

It's unfair to mention just one scene, but there you go. UNECESSARY FARCE is a show of endlessly memorable scenes. It's physically demanding on all the actors and no one falters. Bouncing off floors and walls is a fine art here.

Maybe farces are an acquired taste. I don't know. But I've always loved them. And UNNECESSARY FARCE is one of the funniest of the funny.

Set design by Gene Seyffer, costumes by Ellis Tillman, lighting by Eric Nelson and sound by Shaun Mitchell. All excellent.

Playing at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre through August 9. 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables.

305-444-9293 http://www.actorsplayhouse.org

Photo: top row: Katherine Amadeo, Cliff Burgess, Chris Crawford

bottom row: Jim Ballard, Elizabeth Dimon, Allan Baker, Jessica Brooke Sanford

Photo credit: Alberto Romeu

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