BWW Reviews: GCT's Man with the Pointed Toes is a Winner

The Man with the Pointed Toes
by Lynn & Helen Root
directed by Allan Dietlein
Glendale Centre Theatre
through May 5

Despite its predictability The Man with the Pointed Toes is an endearingly frothy romantic comedy  a lot like the ones that Doris Day used to make in the 60s with James Garner or Rock Hudson. That's because Lynn and Helen Root, two prolific Broadway and Hollywood screen writers from the golden age and before, penned The Man with the Pointed Toes originally as a TV special in the 60s. Afterwards it was mounted as a play for the first time at Glendale Centre Theatre. It has that unmistakable old style comedic flair that just isn't seen anymore. It involves a triangle with two women, one conniving, out to get what she wants and the other, tried and true to a fault and the man too gullible to see the forest from the trees, until the end of course. Now revived onstage at the Glendale Centre Theatre, Pointed Toes has a fab cast, razor sharp direction from Allan Dietlein, who also directed it originally, and comes up a blue-ribbon winner.

The scene is Texas and cowboy/oil millionaire Tom Coterel ( Tommy Kearney) falls in love with New York socialite/golddigger Pamela Wright (Kelley Hurley). Tom is lacking in the social graces and hires a tutor, sincere school teacher Florence Rains (Megan Blakeley) to help him speak proper English, like changing those spoken 'git's to 'get's, to teach him to dance and to acquire some much needed culture - all so that he can fit into Pamela's upper crust world. Of course, before long Florence falls for Tom, and he too is falling for her, but he's just too numb to understand how their companionship is turning into true love. Surrounding Tom are his handsome foreman Link Hanson  (Paul Nieman), two uncouth ranch hands Lem and Hank (Eric Orman and Shawn Cahill) and a put upon Mexican cook Jose (Nick Mizrahi), all of whom work deliciously into the comedic proceedings. Lem and Hank present a real problem as they object to Florence's insistence that they learn table etiquette and persist in treating Jose like crap. Link hatches a strategy to make Tom come to his senses, but he too has romantic feelings for Florence which further complicate the matters at hand. It's delightful to watch, a la Seven Brides for Seven Brothers without the music - the ins and outs of newfound civilization on those from the backwoods - and all the characters - even vicious Pam and sadistic, uncouth Hank are not without their tinges of likeability. Thanks to Lynn and Helen Root's thoroughly entertaining script and Dietlein's detailed and fluid direction, the entire evening is sheer heaven.

The cast are top of the heap. Kearney makes Tom, the typical untamed cowpoke, very easy to get to like. Blakeley as Florence is the best. There is not an ounce of insincerity in her work. Nieman is wonderful as Link, reminding one of Sam Elliott and Andy Griffith, all rolled into one. Cahill as Hank is hilarious, as is Hurley as Pam. The audience actually booed her at the curtain call - and there is no finer reception for an actress in knowing that she has played her part to perfection.

The Man with the Pointed Toes is highly enjoyable fare, one of the very best productions this season at Glendale Centre Theatre.

photo credit: Nathan Milisavljevich

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