BWW Reviews: NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY Brings Twisted Macabre Fun to Village

A serial killer being hunted by the police sounds like ripe fodder for a musical comedy, right? No? Well then you need to expand your perception and get out to Village Theatre to catch their current production of "No Way to Treat a Lady" which not only manages to amuse while it horrifies but also boasts a killer ensemble each of whom slays their roles.

Based on the novel by William Goldman and the subsequent 1968 movie, Douglas J. Cohen's musical (which found it's way into the Village Originals program way back in 1999) focuses on the adversarial relationship between two men. Christopher "Kit" Gill (Nick DeSantis), a failed actor who begins strangling women in an effort to get his name in the papers and Morris Brummell (Dane Stokinger), the Junior Detective who is hoping to make a name for himself by catching the killer. Kit's chosen victims (all hilariously played by Bobbi Kotula) all bear a striking resemblance to his recently deceased Mother while Morris is dealing with his own overbearing Mother (Jayne Muirhead) who he desperately wants to approve of his new girlfriend Sarah (Jessica Skerritt).

Cohen's adaptation shows such immense love and respect for the source material but also for musical theater and dark comedies of the era that you can't help but have a good time. Sure there are some moments where the structure falls apart a bit but for the most part it's a lovely piece with songs that truly move the story along. And director Steve Tomkins along with Choreographer and Assistant Director Crystal Dawn Munkers take on the ridiculousness of the piece like kids in a candy store infusing it with outrageously hilarious moments.

The ensemble is basically a dream team of Village alum. Stokinger and Skerritt could not be more adorable together and Skerritt's assured confidence perfectly counterbalances Stokinger's fumbling awkwardness but neither ever keeps their characters one-note. Muirhead manages some beautiful moments as the typical Jewish mother who can't do without her son but at the same time wishes he were more successful. Kotula turns in what can only described as a Peter Sellers-esque performance as she tackles each of her roles with gusto and comedic gold. You'd think there was an entire team of funny women up there but no; it's just Bobbi Kotula. And I've seen DeSantis in many hysterical roles over the years but I think this could be his best as he layers in such emotion and imbalance amidst all the funny making this performance one of the ages especially his roof raising breakdown number which showed off his acting chops as well as how his voice has never been better.

The show is a silly, raucous, dark and twisted sure-fire crowd pleaser and with my three letter rating system I give the show a solid YAY followed by an evil maniacal laugh. This may be no way to treat a lady but it's certainly the way to treat an audience.

"No Way to Treat a Lady" performs at Village Theatre's Issaquah location through April 26th and then moves onto their Everett location running May 1st through May 24th. For tickets or information contact the Village Theatre box office in Issaquah at 425-392-2202 or in Everett at 425-257-8600 or visit them online at www.villagetheatre.org.

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