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Cotuit'sBlack Comedy afunnyfarce
By John Watters
arts@barnstablepatriot.com
, ALANTRUGMANPHOTO
LIGHTS ON - But not for long in Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy at Cotuit Center for the Art, feauring, left to right, Norbert
• Brown, Mike Devine, Shailene Jackson, Michael Ernst, and Erica Morris.
It
's not all black and'white
with Peter Shaffer's 1960's
play Black Comedy, where
dark is light, and light is dark in
a hectically paced English farce
featuring a reverse lighting design.
The Cotuit Center's immaculate
production, directed by Michelle
Colley, burns bright as its cast of
eight exhibits well-rehearsed tim-
ing in executing a play with heavy
physical comedy.
Shaffer's play debuted in Lon-
don in 1965, with Albert Finney
and Maggie Smith among the
cast. To give you an idea how
long ago that was, Smith played
the twenty-something tart of an
ex-girlfriend, Clea. Thinking of
Smith today in Downton Abbey,
it's fair to say a lot of water has
flowed under London Bridge
between roles.
A quick synopsis: A young
sculptor, Brindsley Miller and
his new girlfriend , Carol Melkett
are "borrowing" furniture from
a rich neighbor, to try to impress
the girl's ex-military father, Col.
Melkett, as well as an extremely
rich art investor, Georg Bam-
burger. If the plan succeeds no
one will know the better as the
furniture will be returned before
its owner gets back from holiday,
and the art benefactor wowed by
the sculptor's work has dropped
a ton of money. But the best-laid
plans go awry when a blown fuse
throws the entire building into an
evening of darkness.
Many plays from the Sixties
don't "hold up" to the test of time.
Period pieces from back in the day
often appear quite simplistic. How-
ever Black Comedy's unique light-
ing, accompanied with its things-
that-go-bump-in-the-dark running
gag, with an unlimited number of
pratfalls, amused the audience who
last Friday night gleefully followed
along.
Colley has a strong cast of
Cape Cod theater regulars. Mike
Devine energetically handles the
role of Brindsley. He strenuously
tries to stay a step ahead of the
chaos unfolding around him and
does a nice job in doing so.
As his girlfriend Carol, Erin
Morris, who illuminated the
background as the maid in the
Center's production of Mamet's
BostonMarriagelast fall, gets a lot
more stage time and shows it is
deserved as she adroitly handles
the comedic role.
The prudish Miss Furnival, a
daughter of a Baptist minister,
is played hysterically by Kristin
Stewart, who once she inad-
vertently gets into the liquor,
becomes a little looser than her
usual well-restrained self.
Norbert Brown embodies the
pompous Colonel who is closely
guarding his daughter's hand in
grand style. Being the only one
with a cigarette lighter, he tries
early on to bring control to the
scene but eventually loses it com-
pletely.
As the slightly flamboyant next-
door neighbor Harold Gorringe,
Michael Ernst relishes his minc-
ing dialog as he begins to realize
his belongings are in the apart-
ment of someone else. He garners
the most laughs with his debonair
style.
Shailene Jackson is Clea, Brind-
sley's ex-girl friend who returns
with still burning romantic feel-
ings. Jackson plays the sultry part
well and takes great joy in keep-
ing the confusion spinning.
Veteran actor Garry Mitchell
plays Schuppanzigh, an util-
ity workman, and Jason Mellin
portrays the briefly appearing
Bamburger. Both handle their
parts with ease.
BlackComedy is a perfect cure
for cabin fever for those in search
of entertainment this wintry
month. It won't disappoint.
Black Comedy is at Cotuit Center for the
Arts on Route 28 Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
through Feb. 22. For tickets, call 508-
428-0669 or go to www.artsonthecape.org
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