Normally, gunshots are not the first thing youd expect to hear at the beginning of a comedy. DCP Theatres Goodbye Charlie begins with the death of the title character, but dont let that discourage you. The play delivers tons of laughs, light humor, and classic slapstick comedy that audiences are sure to love.
Directed by Suki Wilkie, the show opens with the death and funeral of Charlie Sorel, a handsome womanizer who was shot to death after being caught in bed with Rusty Mayerling, a married woman. The funeral is led by Charlies best friend, George Tracy, who has flown in from France to deliver the eulogy at the ill-attended ceremony.
After the funeral has ended, a strange blonde woman wanders into the house from the beach and convinces George that she is, in fact, Charlie. Hes back from the dead, but hes no longer a he. Hes a blonde bombshell with a great figure but no clue how to act like a female.
The rest of the show follows Charlie as he tries to adapt to his new female life. Though he starts out just as mischievous and conniving as he had been before death, he slowly comes to terms with his past wrongdoings and makes an effort to live a better life with his second chance.
Amy Reifinger, as Charlie, truly brings the role to life on the stage. Her commitment to the role is both touching and humorous as she makes the transition from bawdy playboy to dainty female. She brings so much energy to the stage its hard not to get drawn into her story or feel for her as she wrestles with changes out of her control.
Jay Fletcher, as best friend George, provides a wonderful contrast to Charlies panic. Once he accepts that the blonde woman in front of him is really his closest friend, he does his best to be practical and supportive. Fletchers calm, take charge demeanor plays nicely opposite Reifinger's high energy.
The two have lovely chemistry together whether theyre fighting or comforting one another. They carry the show nicely and confidently from start to finish.
Elizabeth Chiodos Rusty Mayerling is a difficult role to carry off, and she does so with ease. Its only after hearing about Rustys true feelings towards Charlie that Charlie begins to realize just how inappropriately hes behaved over the years . Chiodos character is genuine and relatable, offering a much needed female point of view to our main character.
Bruce Crotzer, Crystal Fries, Jayson Martin, and Ray Greenley complete the cast as the group of mismatched funeral attendants. Though they are only onstage for a short while, their comedic timing and delivery start the show off with a bang and set the audience up for the light-hearted show to come.
This production is a delight from start to finish. The cast works well together, and their performances are natural and pleasant to watch. The script is somewhat dated, with Charlie being more concerned about being pretty and dating a CEO than more pressing matters, but the shows message is still very much relevant to todays society.
The script is also very witty and quick. Snappy dialogue combined with the natural talents of the cast make this a show not to be missed.
The set, designed by Suki Wilkie and Emma Strowger, is the perfect picture of a beachfront bachelor pad.
This production has a little of everything, and is sure to be enjoyed by audiences young and old, male or female. Come spend an evening at the beach and laugh with the rest of the crowd.
Goodbye Charlie runs Apr 11 “ 20 Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm Sunday at 2:00pm and Apr 24 “ 26 Thursday - Saturday at 8:00pm. For more information and tickets please call 215.234.0966 or visit DCP Theatre online at www.dcptheatre.com.