Review: There's Nothing Insufficient About MAURITIUS' Postage
By: Amanda Finn Mar. 09, 2016
Stamp collecting isn't considered a dangerous hobby.
Unless, of course, you're a young woman named Jackie who finds herself in a tight spot when a family stamp collection becomes the target of a pointed buyer.
That pending sale is where the characters in Madison Theatre Guild's Mauritius find themselves over the course of a two hour show that runs at breakneck speed.
As the show opens, Jackie visits Philip's (a cross Dennis Yadon with a brilliant deadpan) collectibles shop hoping that the stamp collection she has discovered in her late mother's house is worth something - since her mother left behind a pile of debt and a seemingly unpleasant relationship with her daughter.
When Phil refuses to help Jackie determine the collection's worth, Dennis (a chummy Scott Stanley) agrees to take a look. When he realizes that Jackie has two extremely rare stamps - which are referred to as "post office" stamps as they mistakenly read "post office" rather than "post paid" - he contacts a wealthy collector named Sterling (Donavon Armbruster) to gauge his interest in the rare find.
In the midst of the possible purchase, Jacki'e half sister Mary (an ill-tempered and possessive Molly Vanderlin) insists that the ownership of the collection is hers as the original curator was her Grandfather by blood - something that Jackie could not argue for herself.
The premise sounds absurd.
But it gets even more ridiculous when the very mob boss-esque Armbruster goes postal over the two stamps he cannot live without.
Essentially, the characters in the play are as flawed as the stamps that they covet.
The overall absurdity of Mauritius is evenly matched by some very real interpersonal issues that follow the passing of a loved one. It seems materialistic to be protective of a loved one's belongings, but the memories and sentiment attached to them are very real - as are the financial gains if those items are valuable in any way.
Although that very real issue is nearly glossed over by playwright Theresa Rebeck's quick wit and fast-paced dialogue - both of which were tackled triumphantly by director Dana Pellebon through perfect casting and an exceedingly well paced production.
Phenomenal properties and set dressing by David Heuer also made this show even more over-the-top. Philip's shop comes to mind as the carefully placed knick knacks spoke volumes of Philip's personality without his saying a word, which he doesn't for the first few tense moments of the show.
Mauritius may focus on the pieces of postage that weren't up to snuff in quality, but this production is in mint condition and has at least one viewer's stamp of approval.
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