BWW Reviews: THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM at Everyman Theatre Features Tremendous Ensemble

Everyman Theatre's Artistic Director Vince Lancisi took the challenge of choosing a restoration comedy to end the inaugural season at the Everyman's new and exciting new space on E. Fayette Street and probably couldn't resist the opportunity to direct. And he does a terrific job with his 15 member cast. But I found the play just a little bit long.

THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM (couldn't they change the name?) was written by George Farquhar and was originally produced in 1707. IN the 1930's Thornton Wilder (OUR TOWN) attempted to revise it but didn't finish it. Decades later after his death, his family's estate approached DC playwright Ken Ludwig (LED ME A TENOR) to complete the adaptation. This new version premiered at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC in 2006. The Everyman's production is the Baltimore premiere.

The play follows the adventures of Archer (Danny Gavigan who reminded me of English actor Sacha Baron Cohen)and Aimwell (Yaegel T. Welch), searching for love and money and leaving London for the quiet town of Lichfield. They work beautifully together.

They plot to find a way to woo two beautiful women, Dorinda (Katie O. Solomon) and her married sister Kate (Megan Anderson). They both look wonderful in their period costumes by David Burdick.

When they arrive in Lichfield, they find a quaint inn owned by Boniface (the incredble Bruce Randolph Nelson with a gigantic beer belly which gets in the way a lot). Nelson also steals the end of the show playing a French minister.

One of my many favorite Everyman Theatre Company Actors is Cliff Brandhagan. He plays Sullen married to Kate. He's a drunk and he knows it. But his soliloquy towards the end of the evening brought down the house.

"Getting married is easy enough. It's staying married that is the tricky part. What is so difficult about marriage? Everything. Do I believe in it? No. Why did I get married? Stupidity. Why do I stay married? Stubborness."

Other highlights in the cast are James Whalen, Kathryn Kelley, Stephen PatRick Martin, and Dora Schmidt.

Kudos to lighting designer Jay A. Herzog (especially when men and women first meet), great sword-fighting choreography (Lewis Shaw), Elisheba Ittoop for sound (responsible for the great Hayden music to a modern beat), Gary Logan and Leigh Wilson Smiley (for the great British dialects), and Anne Nesmith who designed the incredible wigs.

It's a fun way to end the season. Too bad it was just a little too long.

THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM continues to June 30, 2013. On Thursday, June 27 (following the 7:30 performance, there will be a post-show talk back discussion with the actors.

For tickets, call 410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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