BWW Reviews: Pioneer Theatre Company's LAUGHING STOCK is a Love Letter to Theatre

Laughing Stock, written and directed by Pioneer Theatre Company's retiring artistic director Charles Morey, is a love letter to theatre.

It is about the people who work at an old summer stock barn theatre and their comical and heartwarming struggles to produce three plays in repertory there: Dracula, Charley's Aunt, and Hamlet.

The characters include the long-time director of the theatre, the stage manager, the set designer, the business manager, a soured veteran actor, and a young actor deciding whether to leave the profession for law school, among others.

Rather than giving in to the temptation to portray stock characters broadly for cheap laughs, Morey and his actors approach the subject matter with finesse and subtlety. The characters are written and performed as real people with human foibles whom the audience can relate to and cheer on.

The ensemble cast is very strong. Especially impressive in parts that require both comedic and dramatic chops are Broadway actors Jack Koenig (GorDon Page), Cheryl Gaysunas (Sarah McKay), Cary Donaldson (Jack Morris), and Jeff Steitzer (Vernon Volker).

The climax of the play is the side-splitting Act II opener. It is an extended sequence from the Dracula play-within-a-play in which the writing, acting, direction, and superior scenic, lighting, and costume design all seamlessly come together to produce self-referential hilarity.

While the play is accessible to anyone, theatre aficionados are the audience members who will best identify with the characters, situations, and themes.

Laughing Stock plays through April 7. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 801-581-6961 or visit www.pioneertheatre.org.

Photo Credit: L-R Paul Kiernan (Henry Mills), Craig Bockhorn (Craig Conlin), Jack Koenig (GorDon Page), Cheryl Gaysunas (Sarah McKay). Photo by Alexander Weisman.