Review: SABRINA FAIR at Oyster Mill Playhouse

The 1953 play Sabrina Fair, written by Samuel A. Taylor, was first produced by the Playwrights’ Company and ran on Broadway for over 300 performances. Known for its witty dialogue, this romantic comedy was adapted for the screen, including the 1954 film starring Audrey Hepburn. Oyster Mill Playhouse presents Sabrina Fair under the direction of Michael Hosler May 8-24.

The audience first encounters a gorgeous set and lovely pre-show music reminiscent of the time period. The set, designed by Michael Hosler makes use of the depth of the stage, creating angles and levels to make space for hallways, pathways, entrances, and so forth. The set, costumes (from Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb), lighting (designed by Tessa Arnold and operated by stage manager Sam Klimas), and props are intentionally crafted to bring the audience into the story.

The stellar cast features Riley Artis (Party Guest), A.J. Rhoads (Party Guest), Kelsey Irene Markey (Gretchen/Betty), Nicholas Tschinkel (Party Guest/Paul), Kristen Schaffer (Margaret), Gordon Einhorn (Fairchild), Ron Nason (Linus Larrabee), Aliza Bardfield (Maude Larrabee), Kathleen Tacelosky (Julia Ward McKlinlock), Morgan Vallie (Sabrina Fairchild), Bradon Long (David Larrabee), and Matt Golden (Linus Larrabee, Jr.). Artis starts the performance off on the right foot with a beautifully delivered narration to set the scene. Her energy and poise lights up the stage not only in the opening scene but also as one of the guests at the Larrabee’s party. Rhoads cuts a dashing figure in the party scene. His charisma is a great match for Artis as they twirl about the stage.

Markey is hilarious as party-goer Betty and as David Larrabee’s ex-wife Gretchen. She brings a confident, flirty exuberance to both of these characters. Tschinkel gives a wonderful performance as Paul, the Frenchman who asked Sabrina to marry him. His accent is consistent and not over-done. His interactions with Vallie’s Sabrina and with Golden’s Linus highlight the complexity of his character—the question of his desire for Sabrina versus his maneuvering for a business deal with the Larrabees. Schaffer is delightful as Margaret, the Larrabee’s maid. Her not-so-subtle way of lingering to over-hear conversations and her expression when the family realizes what she’s doing add a wonderful comedic element to the production.

Einhorn’s Fairchild is quiet, gentle, and humble. His embarrassment at having his secret discovered in act two is utterly endearing. Einhorn, Nason, and Bardfield have perhaps the most difficult job of portraying characters who throw a spotlight on classism, and each of these actors handles that task well. Nason’s Linus is uptight and proper, exasperated by his sons, especially Linus Larrabee, Jr., with whom he often disagrees. Bardfield portrays Maude Larrabee with a mix of upper-class haughtiness, grudging understanding that times are changing, and overwhelming love for her family despite their faults. Her facial expressions are priceless, especially as she’s confronted by the unexpected at every turn. Tacelosky gives a tremendous performance as Julia Ward McKinlock. Her comedic timing is impeccable and every line is delivered with the perfect tone and expression, making Aunt Julia an audience favorite.

Vallie is adorable as Sabrina, the chauffer’s daughter who’s just returned from France. Her speech patterns and gestures are reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn’s. Vallie’s energy heightens the emotion of each scene as she embodies her character. Long has some of the best facial expressions in the cast, and his David Larrabee comes across at first as confident and at ease and later, as his feelings for Sabrina cause a commotion within both families, he shows David’s more vulnerable side. Long and Golden exemplify sibling rivalry. Golden’s stage presence brings Linus Larrabee, Jr. to life, his posture, gait, and expressions emphasizing his character’s independence, ruthless business ambitions, keen understanding of human nature, and ability to manipulate situations for his own amusement. Vallie, Long, and Golden work beautifully together, keeping the audience engaged throughout the performance.

If you enjoy a period piece with fast-paced dialogue and larger than life characters, Sabrina Fair is the show for you. The team at Oyster Mill has created a delightful and charming production of this classic play. Visit oystermillplayhouse.com to get your tickets!

Photo Credit: Nicole Dube @shesophoto

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