Review: ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS presented by The Hampton Theatre Company

Closing out their spectacular 32nd season, The Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) offers the uproarious British comedy Alarms and Excursions by Michael Frayn. In this engaging play, the actors appear in a series of vignettes - different characters and stories; sometimes all on stage together and sometimes not - making light of otherwise embarrassing situations. Moreover, situations involving new technology - 1998 technology. Most of the vignettes don't have any relation, but each are absolutely sidesplitting.

To give you perhaps a better idea, I dare say that I liken this type of production to one of my favorite television shows I Love Lucy. Each of the vignettes, like the show, are simple, lighthearted, and funny with people navigating day-to-day life and getting into and out of situations; except there's no scatter brained red head.

This incarnation, running through June 11th at the Quogue Community Hall, is excellently directed by Artistic Director Diana Marbury.

Boasting a wonderful ensemble cast of four - HTC vets Andrew Botsford, Rosemary Cline, George A. Loizides, and Jane Lowe - they will surely have you laughing long after you've seen this production. The busy first act is the "alarms" part when smoke alarms, timers, and such go off at hilariously inopportune times. We see all but one of the vignettes in the first half of the show and the amount of physicality from the troupe is inspired. A strong comedic cast is required for this type of show, and this company delivers superbly.

The second act is the "excursions" part set in a hotel as the characters are on vacation. There are specific movements needed for this section as theirs is an intimate stage and the couples cannot see each other at first. But let me tell you, out of all of the vignettes, this part seems to net the most laughs.

And fittingly, the term "Alarms and Excursions" is an old theatre term, too.

Also a highlight is Ms. Marbury's creative team and stage crew. Seamus Naughton's sound design is top-notch and indeed an integral part of this show. Perfect timing adds the laughter from the audience. This is enhanced perfectly from Sean Marbury's clever set and Teresa LeBrun's stunning costumes. And special kudos to the outstanding stage crew. In particular, the vignettes in the first act are each about 10 minutes long, so they have very little time to switch scenes, costumes, wigs... everything. A job very well done to all.

And so, the Hampton Theatre Company culminates another thrilling season with a fantastic showing of Michael Frayn's Alarms And Excursions. I truly appreciate the HTCs keen sense of their audience and the wonderful sometimes semi-obscure productions they run. I'm sure next season will be just as stellar! _________________________________________________________________________________________

Alarms And Excursions is presented by The Hampton Theatre Company at the Quogue Community Hall of Quogue, Long Island, through June 11th. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call (631) 653-8955 or visit www.hamptontheatre.org.

By Michael Frayn, Direction and Set Décor by Diana Marbury, Set Design by Sean Marbury, Lighting Design by Sebastian Paczynski, Costume Design by Teresa LeBrun, Sound Design by Seamus Naughton, Stage Management by Chrissie DePierro

Starring Andrew Botsford, Rosemary Cline, George A. Loizides, and Jane Lowe

Photo by Tom Kochie

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