Sternin and Fraser Go UNDER MY SKIN at Pasadena Playhouse

Under My Skin/by RoBert Sternin and Prudence Fraser/directed by Marcia Milgrim Dodge/Pasadena Playhouse/through October 7

Prolific TV writers RoBert Sternin and Prudence Fraser turn their talents to the stage with Under My Skin, an amusing fantasy with sexual role reversal. The male spirit gets trapped in a female body and the female in a male's, creating laughs aplenty, quirky romance and even manages to take a stand on a very important topical issue. The issues never reach the level of full dramatic conflict, though, as a sitcom-like comedy style takes control, and it's utter bliss for all concerned, now at the Pasadena Playhouse through October 7.

Not that there's anything wrong with the format and content as is; it makes for a truly pleasurable evening.  When Melody Dent (Erin Cardillo) and her boss Harrison Badish - boy that one's a cute play on words (Matt Walton) plummet 14 stories in an elevator, the result is not what you might think. Death, well...almost! An Angel (Yvette Cason) works a couple of miracles, but in the process of bringing them back, puts each person in the wrong package, so Melody looks like Melody, but underneath, she's really Harrison, and Harrison's really Melody. Don't get confused! More clearly said, a man is trapped in a woman's body and the woman in a man's. It's fun to watch, but not for the victims.What transpires for both of them is a lot of pain and confusion, especially when they find out they must stay this way, for a while. A later incident will reverse them, but in the meantime... Badish experiences an appointment with a gynecologist (Tim Bagley), and greenhorn Dent, as Badish, must take over a board meeting. Since Badish's company is Amalgamated Health Care and Melody, a temp, has been looking at what The company should do to improve their future plan for seniors, particularly since her grandfather Sam (Hal Linden) has a myriad of health issues, well...here's her chance to make a difference. The role reversal offers a mixed bag of opportunities: for each to experience truthfully how the other half lives. Good, but... more serious problems arise, whereby one of them is given the chance to make a life or death decision for the other. Find out the rest for yourselves when you see the play, and I hope you will. It is adorably funny, romantic in an odd sort of way and completely entertaining.

The cast is sheer delight. Cardillo and Walton are delectably helpless adapting to their new bodies - remember Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie and all his embarrassments? Megan Sikora is a scream as Melody's sexy friend Nanette, Danielle Soibelman appropriately obnoxious as Casey, Melody's teenage daughter, but it is Tim Bagley and also Monette Magrath in a variety of comedic roles who display the most versatility and get a lot of the laughs. Her fiance Victoria and his Doctor lead the pack! Linden has terrific moments in his smaller role and Cason as always is a resourceful and fun actress to watch. Beautifully skilled director Marcia Milgrim Dodge proves once again just how dandy she is with comedy. There isn't a false move from anyone, and the pacing is up, up, up. John Iacovelli's set is a miracle of modern technology. Big, cold and steely background represents the corporate world with contrasting apartments for Melody and Harrison, a breathtaking city skyline and a malfunctioning elevator. It has so much personality, it's like another character in the play.

A friend of mine said leaving Under My Skin, "But... it never made me cry!" So what? The genuine comedy, and the subtly old-fashioned and bizarre way in which the romance develops are enough to put it on my enjoyment list. And there's even a crack at changing health care - it won't happen quite like this, but it never hurts to promote that vital necessity for change!

http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/