BWW Reviews: A DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF at the Intiman

Seattle's Intiman Theatre continues its 2010 season with a bawdy and hilarious adaptation of Moliere's "A Doctor in Spite of Himself".  And I have to say, it's silly, clever, fast paced and the best time I've had in a theater in quite some time.

Brilliantly adapted by Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp, they have taken this ribald comedy and infused it with a carnival atmosphere complete with live musicians and clowns.  But not to worry, these are not the scary circus clowns I'm referring to, but the commedia, theatrical style of clowning.  These clowns are more akin to Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd than Bozo or Clarabelle.  The story is simple.  Sganarelle is a woodcutter.  He has a fight with his wife Martine.  So to get back at him, she convinces Lucas and Valere that he is the greatest doctor of all time.  They are in need of a Doctor to bring home to their master whose daughter Lucinde has stopped speaking because she is in love with Leandre but her father won't allow them to marry.  But Martine says that Sganarelle won't admit he's a doctor so they'll have to beat the truth out of him ... with sticks.  Wait, did I say this was a simple story?  Anyway, once Sganarelle finally relents, they cart him off to their Master's house to cure Lucinde.  And then the hilarity begins.  Oh who am I kidding, the hilarity began during the front of house speech and never once let up.  This stunning adaptation takes the classic Moliere play and turns it up to 11 by infusing it with modern references and some of the best theatrical clowning I've ever seen.

Daniele Breaker (Tony Nominee for his work in "Passing Strange") shows he has no problems with comedy.  On the contrary, his by the seat of his pants Sganarelle is a whirlwind of humor and when he's on stage all you can do is hold on and enjoy the ride.  But did he overshadow the rest of the cast?  Not at all.  The rest of the ensemble is right there with him at every step and each had their own moments to shine and completely steal the scene.  In fact there were so many instances of stopping the show, I lost count.  Whether it was Don Darryl Rivera's lilting cupid, Allen Gilmore's repeated breakdown as a distraught and rotund Father, or Ashley Marshall's screeching hillbilly, the show stealing crown kept getting passed.  And I have to also mention Chelsey Rives hilariously buxom Jaqueline, Renata Friedman's gothically sick Lucinde and Austin Durant's foppish Leandre.  The entire ensemble turned in singular performances that turned this show into a monster of comedy. 

But I have to single out co-adaptor Epp who also performed in the show in multiple parts.  His lovelorn Lucas reminded me of a classic Buster Keaton and his brief stint as the hillbilly Brother/Daddy Thibaut had me in stitches.  If there were and actual crown for show stealing, it would have to have ended with him. 

And if all that weren't enough, add in gorgeous and hysterical music by Greg C. Powers and Robertson Witmer.  Their playing ended up as another character to the piece as they punctuated each moment while never stopping the advancement of the story.  Top it all off with the outrageously over the top costumes and sets by Elizabeth Caitlin Ward and Narelle Sissons and pace-perfect direction from co-adaptor Bayes and you have a glorious piece of theater that I, for one, would love to see get a transfer to Broadway.  Broadway needs a few good clowns right now.

All in all this is a mega-hit for the Intiman and one not to be missed.  Now go get yourself to the Intiman or they'll have to beat you with a stick until you do.

"A Doctor in Spite of Himself" plays at the Intiman Theatre through October 10^th.  For tickets or information contact the Intiman Box Office at 206-269-1900 or visit them online at www.Intiman.org.

Photo Credit: Chris Bennion

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