BWW Reviews: Inventive Production of INSPECTOR HOUND Entertains for a Cause

Acting Against Cancer has decided to do Stoppard one better, as they offer an immersive experience for the audience from the moment they step off the elevator. The actors walk around in character as if they are getting ready to perform the play within a play that makes up much of the onstage action. The critics wander about too, drinking liberally and advising that the audience do the same. A second small stage in the lobby hosts a radio announcer who does interviews with the characters, and also slips in enjoyable advertising for Acting Against Cancer's sponsors.

And there was plenty of laughing once the show started. Maybe too much.

There are two ways to screw up Tom Stoppard. The first is to take it too seriously- ignore the jokes and over play the existential angst. What results is a grating, unwatchable mess. The second way to screw up Stoppard is to completely ignore the angst and just do the jokes. What results doesn't do full justice to the work, but it's dang watchable, because Stoppard is dash clever when it comes to jokes.

Acting Against Cancer's production, as directed by company founder Remy Sisk leans too heavily on the humor for my taste.

There is some serious stuff going on in this script, some real questions about the performative nature of interaction, how we are affected by what we watch, and the age old chestnut "what is the real purpose of art"? Those questions are generally played for laughs.

The resulting production flawed, but in the best way possible. It's lean, light and funny. The characters are zany and likable.

Janice Walter (housekeeper Mrs. Drudge) may have been my favorite, with her dry asides offering commentary on the murder mystery genre, but everyone gets their share of laughs.

Female leads Charlotte Campbell (Lady Cynthia Muldoon) and Brynn Gordon (Felicity Cunningham) get to look ravishing in period dress AND comment on sexist stereotypes through the wonders of meta-theatricality.

Between the dynamite script, the charming and funny performances, the extra joy of the pre-show audience immersion, and the knowledge that a paid admission helps purchase art therapy for kids with cancer at Kosair, it's easy to recommend this production as a lovely way to spend an evening.