BWW Reviews: Group Rep Lights Up with MY THREE ANGELS

These convicts Joseph (Lloyd Pedersen), Jules (Robert Gallo) and Alfred (Garrett Marshall) - three wise men or three stooges? - use crime, even murder, this time to the advantage of the Ducatel family (Doug Haverty, Julia Silverman and Kelsi Zahl) who must salvage their business from the cruel upper hand of evil cousin Henri Trochard, bent on closing down their shop. Felix (Haverty) is a self-described honest man but hardly a resourceful businessman, allowing far too much credit to customers like Madame Parole (Hersha Parady), who take advantage of his generosity. Marie Louise (Zahl) happens to be in love with Trochard's nephew Paul (Daniel Sykes), but Trochard has promised Paul's hand in marriage to the daughter of a wealthy family, creating a further gap in family ties between Trochard and the Ducatels. The three handymen proceed to interfere intensely in every matter of the family's business, which naturally is none of their business, but in spite of or rather by means of the mayhem created, things start to turn around surprisingly in the Ducatels' favor.

 

Eisenberg has wisely cast evenly - every actor suits his role, making for a totally delightful ensemble. Gallo hasn't been this good in a long time, Pedersen's inherent sense of what works comedically simply shines, and Marshall's take on what Alfred wants and how to get it is just wonderful to watch, even when he fumbles severely. Parady as the stuffy, obnoxious Madame Parole is hilarious, and Zahl as Marie Louise is divine. Her energy is up, up, up, never missing a beat. Winfield is perfectly despiccable as Trochard. Silverman does well in lending care and support in a rather thankless role as wife Emilie. Sykes is at his best in his dying moments as Paul, and Haverty lends Felix a tough, optimistic upper chin. Director Eisenberg really brings out the charm in this piece, and Chris Winfield's set is one of Group rep's most colorful and spot.on, as are the beautiful costumes by Angela Eads. One note: the angelic trio could be more playful ; the sillier they get, the funnier their scheme. Their pacing also needs to be consistently bright throughout.

 

With too many presentations and adaptations of A Christmas Caroland It's a Wonderful Life around town, it's a refreshing change to see a holiday play that is rarely produced. My Three Angels is a truly fine offering from Group rep, one of their very best in quite a while.