BWW Reviews: It's Witty Romance in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

Independent Shakespeare Co. bookends its 2013 season with two witty romantic comedies, Oliver Goldsmith's SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER and Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT, to offset a terrifyingly intense and bloody version of MACBETH during this summer's Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Though Shakespeare pre-dates Goldsmith by about 150 years, they are perfect literary companions for an ISC summer festival. Both share a gracefulness in their use of language and a master's dexterity in highlighting their characters' idiosyncrasies through hilarious antics.

As befits this comedy of manners, mistaken identities provide rich fodder for laughs when Charles Marlow, the senior, sends his son Charles Marlow, the junior (David Melville), to woo his old friend Mr. Hardcastle's (Danny Campbell) daughter Kate (Claudia de Vasco). But before he and his traveling companion, Mr. Hastings (Nikhil Pai), can arrive at their destination, they are met and misled by Kate's mischievous half-brother, Tony Lumpkin (André Martin), into believing that the Hardcastle country home is actually an inn.

Marlow mistakes Mr. Hardcastle for the innkeeper and proceeds to break every rule of etiquette imaginable, much to Tony's delight. Hardcastle is at a loss as to why his old friend's son is behaving so badly but he too has created a minor deception by having his farm hands pose as refined servants. The set-up is an open invitation for physical comedy and the ISC gang is game for it from the outset.

When it comes time for Marlow to meet Kate we see his funniest flaw. He can do little more than stutter with nervousness and stare at the ground in the company of a lady like Miss Hardcastle but his behavior does a complete 180 when he later mistakes her for a lowly servant and pursues her like a wanton playboy.

Meanwhile, Tony is engaged to his cousin, Constance Neville (Erika Soto), but he'd rather be partying with Betty Bouncer (Julia Aks) at the local bar. Constance is in love with Mr. Hastings and when he unexpectedly finds her staying at the Harcastles, they make plans to run away together. An elaborate scheme involving the theft of Mrs. Hardcastle's jewels adds even more hilarity, and all the while the audience is in on the fun.

Directed by the company's savvy artistic director Melissa Chalsma, and presented by an endlessly creative ensemble, Goldsmith's eccentric characters come alive with jaunty delight. Melville's Marlow is full of awkward extremes and his ability to recover from every foible is a true delight. De Vasco is charming as the independent heroine who takes her future into her own hands and Martin's playboy is an unrestrained joker who wins the audience over through his own exuberant enjoyment of his pranks. Plus, he's got some great hair, thanks to costumer Kate Bishop.

Bishop's styling for SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER is a fantastic combination of 70s glam rock and 18th century finery. The looks are bright, sexy and full of figure-flattering details that are particularly beautiful on the Griffith Park outdoor stage. Soto is luscious in pink, Pai dashing in a deep magenta waistcoat; Melville's arrival hat and coat will make you laugh the minute he enters the stage and de Vasco's rich blue gown is a stunner.

The design for Mrs. Hardcastle (Bernadette Sullivan) is such a perfect match to her over-the-top personality that she is instantly recognizable as the overbearing, greedy but ever-so-polite doyenne of the dysfunctional family. Her two-foot high wig, which only becomes more elaborate by the play's end, is a marvel, as is the detail in her over-sized Marie Antoinette gown. Sullivan has never been better and she'll make you love the oblivious old broad with every booming order she spouts.

Mistaken identities, curious situations, and a delicious resolution make the play's journey to a happy ending a most satisfying romp in the park. In my book, this is the way to celebrate a summer night.

Pictured above: Bernadette Sullivan as Mrs. Hardcastle and Andre Martin as Tony Lumpkin. Photo credit: Grettel Cortes.

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, through July 27, 2013
MACBETH, through August 31
AS YOU LIKE IT, opening August 1
Thursday - Sunday at 7:00 pm
(Special Wednesday performance August 28)
For directions, complete calendar, and information about special events, including Players in the Park/Teatristas en el Parque, Salon Series Discussions, and pre-show performances by guest artists, visit www.independentshakespeareco.org.

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