Barrington Stage's "Wonder of the World" Wacky, Bizarro, Effective
David Lindsay-Abaire's oddball rather than screwball comedy, "Wonder of the World" is, at its best, reminiscent of laugh-out-loud sketches one might have enjoyed during Saturday Night Live's crazed but sterling early days.
Keira Naughton plays the leading, manic, desperate leading lady - Cass. She's walking away from her Park Slope apartment and seemingly good-guy husband, Kip (Brian Hutchison). Cass boards a bus for Niagara Falls. Having discovered a disburbing secret amid her husband's sweater drawer, Cass departs asap. Lois (Finnerty Steeves who was splendid recently in the NYC staging of "Almost, Maine") sits next to Lois on the bus. Lois has a drinking problem and a disposition toward committing suicide. Turns out she and Lois, who share a room near the Falls become wonderful, rib-tickling (for the audience) pals. Lois never manages to tumble over the Falls in her barrel.
Cass falls (forgive me) for Captain Mike (Dan Cantor), whose wife recently passed on due to a peanut butter escapade. (By the way, Costco even has a place within WOW).
Susan Louise O'Connor, multi-cast as a helicopter pilot, three waitresses (Pocahontas and a screeching individual included), is stunningly versatile.
Also on the scene are Karla (Libby George) and Glen (William Bogert) -- private investigators nobody in his right mind would ever hire. But, they're edgy, nudgy, and far off-center. They might as well be wearing all left shoes.
Rob Ruggiero, who is most-often found directing at Hartford TheaterWorks, also mounts plays each summer for Barrington Stage. Ruggiero is an important contributor; otherwise, the actors might occasionally and literally trip over one another. Rob is fortunate enough to work with Luke Hegel-Cantarella's sliding, folding, pliable set. In short, the scenic design is terrific.
Keira Naughton is a fine actress. I will attest to that, having seen her perform during past summers in Williamstown. This time around, she's good but appears, at times, to be making too strong an effort to milk each moment. Again, she is clearly talented and understands comic timing. She needs to relax, trust her instincts, and play off the able ensemble members who surround her.
Steeves is a hoot and (intending praise here) she reminds me of Jeanine Garafalo. Her role insists that Lois counter Cass with one or two liners and Steeves comes through again and again.
"Wonder of the World" is occasionally hilarious, oftentimes just plain funny. That's a no-brainer.
Lindsay-Adaire also has something to say. At least three of his characters question the value of continued life above ground. The playwright, beneath the comedy, probes about the tentative quality of existence. Kind of fits in with the current landscape, I would say.
Barrington Stage Company, biding its time for just a few weeks until settling into its permanent home in Pittsfield, brings "Wonder of the World" to Lenox High School's Duffin Theatre through August 5.
Keira Naughton plays the leading, manic, desperate leading lady - Cass. She's walking away from her Park Slope apartment and seemingly good-guy husband, Kip (Brian Hutchison). Cass boards a bus for Niagara Falls. Having discovered a disburbing secret amid her husband's sweater drawer, Cass departs asap. Lois (Finnerty Steeves who was splendid recently in the NYC staging of "Almost, Maine") sits next to Lois on the bus. Lois has a drinking problem and a disposition toward committing suicide. Turns out she and Lois, who share a room near the Falls become wonderful, rib-tickling (for the audience) pals. Lois never manages to tumble over the Falls in her barrel.
Cass falls (forgive me) for Captain Mike (Dan Cantor), whose wife recently passed on due to a peanut butter escapade. (By the way, Costco even has a place within WOW).
Susan Louise O'Connor, multi-cast as a helicopter pilot, three waitresses (Pocahontas and a screeching individual included), is stunningly versatile.
Also on the scene are Karla (Libby George) and Glen (William Bogert) -- private investigators nobody in his right mind would ever hire. But, they're edgy, nudgy, and far off-center. They might as well be wearing all left shoes.
Rob Ruggiero, who is most-often found directing at Hartford TheaterWorks, also mounts plays each summer for Barrington Stage. Ruggiero is an important contributor; otherwise, the actors might occasionally and literally trip over one another. Rob is fortunate enough to work with Luke Hegel-Cantarella's sliding, folding, pliable set. In short, the scenic design is terrific.
Keira Naughton is a fine actress. I will attest to that, having seen her perform during past summers in Williamstown. This time around, she's good but appears, at times, to be making too strong an effort to milk each moment. Again, she is clearly talented and understands comic timing. She needs to relax, trust her instincts, and play off the able ensemble members who surround her.
Steeves is a hoot and (intending praise here) she reminds me of Jeanine Garafalo. Her role insists that Lois counter Cass with one or two liners and Steeves comes through again and again.
"Wonder of the World" is occasionally hilarious, oftentimes just plain funny. That's a no-brainer.
Lindsay-Adaire also has something to say. At least three of his characters question the value of continued life above ground. The playwright, beneath the comedy, probes about the tentative quality of existence. Kind of fits in with the current landscape, I would say.
Barrington Stage Company, biding its time for just a few weeks until settling into its permanent home in Pittsfield, brings "Wonder of the World" to Lenox High School's Duffin Theatre through August 5.
posted by Fred Sokol at 8:28 AM
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