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Nicholas Thibeault as the Sexton and Andrew Iacovellli as the
Dentist
PHOTO CREDIT: Richard W. Dionne Jr
Now, Look to the Left...and Chekov
Continuing 2nd Story's year of comedy offerings, Ed Shea and Co. have chosen to offer up a left-of-center sample of Neil Simon's work. Chekov filtered through Simon sounds like the distillation of a Theater 101 class where all we're left with is Matthew Broderick standing in a gray field muttering to himself about the winter. In Queens.
However, Chekov's comedy chops are notoriously overlooked and Simon's belt covers more than borscht, so 'The Good Doctor' serves as an adequately 2nd Story-esque replacement for the originally slotted production of 'Playboy of the Western World'. In a speech to this night's audience, Ed Shea promises that 'The Good Doctor' is a sublime getaway from the world's worries of the past week - and our own. And, he's right; there are no heavy metaphors here, no religious or political speechifying or even the burden of Shakespearean verse. This is sensual, yet quiet, escapism. If only for a few hours, we're given permission to leave our burdens at home.
The framework is the central conceit of a Chekovian narrator, The Writer (John Michael Richardson), charmingly guiding us through several of his short works, which are, with varying degrees of success, brought to life. Richardson creates his own persona instead of attempting to channel Chekov (or Simon) and relies on the strength of an enchanting voice and the ability to make us hang on every word. The net effect is charming and The Writer brings us to his world for a breezy social
visit, as if Sunday tea were about to be served. Trevor Elliott's set augments this effect with the creation of a grand parlor with large open window, the comforting sounds of cicadas and crickets in the background.
It is this third, almost Southern, ambience that wraps around the givens of Chekovian character and whimsical Neil Simon comedy, aiding the sense that the audience is eavesdropping on a rich secret. It is a secret told in the velvety voice of Richardson and his vivid characters. It is a delicious bond between The Writer and the audience which grows stronger throughout the play.
By far the most successfully realized vignette in the first act is Surgery, in which a would-be dentist takes on a tooth. The physical comedy by Andrew Iacovelli and Nicholas Thibeault reaches Three Stooges proportions, leaving the audience spent from laughter and wanting more.
Unfortunately, what makes Richardson such a success as a narrator becomes the play's biggest weakness. The ultimately confusing Too Late for Happiness, in which Joan Batting plays a widow considering another try at love, sees Richardson take a step away from his role as narrator and take on a character opposite Batting. The leap is a little much and the piece does not last long enough for us to forget Richardson as our narrator. Neither Batting nor the vignette is well served as a result. (Admittedly, the part was originally played by an actor no longer in the production, but one wonders if any other performers could have been found that would have been able to handle this small interlude without pulling Richardson so far out of his world.)
However, after this small speed bump, the stories continue with The Seduction in which the lovely Laura Sorenson as The Wife finds herself played (and played well) by Jeff Church's Peter, a master of stealing wives from husbands. Church delivers Peter with a calm quietude uncharacteristic among egotistical males; no boastfulness, just pride in his manipulations and their result. While it would have been easy to portray Peter as seedy or conniving, Church sees him as just an honest scoundrel, a gambler who knows he always has a straight flush.
Bill Oakes, as animated as ever, plays a fantastic lunatic in The Drowned Man and Valerie Westgate gives a memorable performance as the sassy tart in The Arrangement. She is an exciting addition to the 2nd Story stage and the pony to bet on in future productions.
So, while some of the stories fall a bit short in this evening, all are served well by wonderful staging and direction by Pat Hegnauer and Ed Shea. They wisely never let a moment last too long before we find ourselves involved in something completely different and there is a continuous flow of amusing choices to satisfy one's attention span, however long or short it may be. And even where the mind may wander, the eye is always satisfied. Of special note are Ron Cesario's costumes, styled in turn of the century Russia, filled with rich hues and textures and a major element of the aforementioned sensual aspect of this production.
All in all, 'The Good Doctor' is a great time. So much so, that after all the laughter, we're a little saddened by the evening coming to an end. So, if hungry for a little reprieve from life, 2nd Story serves it up on a silver platter. The Doctor is in...let the healing begin.
2nd Story Theatre presents Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor' through Sunday, April 10th. Performances are Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Regular admission is $27.
2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market St. Warren, RI 02885
email: boxoffice_2ndstorytheatre.com or order by phone _ 401.247.4200
