Have you theatre-goers ever seen any version of Shakespeares Comedy of Errors, or Rodgers and Harts The Boys from Syracuse'
If so, you were watching adaptations of the 3rd century B.C. Roman playwright Plautuss comedy about identical twins called The Menaechmi, on which both those shows are based.
Tonight, October 10th, director/playwright Ara Barlieb adds a third adaptation to this story of mistaken identity, with the maiden performance of his farcical play, The Brothers Tortellini.
There is another first here as well, in that the Crowded Kitchen Players has recently left their Quakertown home and returned to the Lehigh Valley, taking up residence, at least for now, in the beautiful Zions Reformed Church (the Liberty Bell Church, for you history buffs) at the corner of Hamilton and Church Streets in downtown Allentown.
Take a few extra minutes when you see this play to study the beauty of the church interior, and then settle down for an evening of Barliebs funniest writing and some terrific acting by a talented cast.
The director has chosen not to reveal the characters names in the script, so your ear can catch them first, and trust me, they are all very funny names for famous Italian dishes like Calamari Alfredo and Frutti de Mari, that just roll trippingly off the tongue. So I wont spoil the pleasure for you either and will only use the actors real names in this review. There is a prologue and epilogue to the show, about which Ill say more later, and all the action takes place on the fictional island of Pasta Fagiole, but the real play opens with a short abduction scene, in which one of the twin baby boys is robbed from his cradle by the scheming David Oswald, who uses possibly the worst Italian accent I have ever heard to wonderful results. Sound effects of the baby wailing are delivered by a live actor in the background, and the babys parents, who go on to play larger roles in the rest of the play, use exaggerated Brooklyn accents in the scene. You are thus prepared in high comedic style for two hours of silliness and misadventure as we then jump 30 years forward for the rest of the story. Todd Carpien soon appears as the over-the-top gluttonous everyman figure, bewailing his unsatisfied need for all food all the time, which is denied him by his wife, played with delightful Betty Boop voice and manner by Pam Wallace. She wants some wifely physical pleasures before she will cook for her hungry husband, and the suffering man, lingering over gustatory delicacies in his mind, reminds us often that his appetite goes unsatisfied.
We then meet the first of the two adult Tortellini brothers, Tom Harrison, who is beset and besieged by his tyrannical shrew of a wife, Sharon Ferry, who would be a thoroughly unlikable character if she werent so thoroughly funny.
Scenes between these two veteran players are some of the cleverest in the show, and the actors use them to fullest extent.
The story takes shape as the act progresses, and we soon encounter the second Tortellini brother (whose name is pronounced slightly differently from his twins) as he is washed ashore, along with his slave, onto the island.
Dave Fox (who of course looks nothing like Tom Harrison) does a splendid job of portraying his twin character as terribly superficial and dim-witted, traits which are shown in even higher relief as they are played out against the charms of his bright and earnest slave, Libby Ross, who has to keep problem-solving for her clueless master. Confusion reigns supreme in Act II when the brothers separately visit a house of pleasure, where we are treated to the seductive and amusing allure of its chief courtesan, Lauri Beth (LB) Rogers, and her assistant courtesan, an exuberantly luscious babe played by Sarah Thomas, who whispers various delights into the ears of the twins, with marvelously funny reactions from both men.
Michael Thew adds flavor to the pot as the households cook, and hes sure to set you wondering about his gender preferences as he ponders the charms of various male characters.
Of course the doctor of the house has to be summoned for some inane reason, and we watch Carla Thew handle a small role with comic dexterity that is a tribute to her talent.
Finally, a visibly aged Dave Oswald (the baby snatcher) reappears, still using an accent that would make Al Pacino cringe, and leading a largely silent but very physical trio of stooges played by Dave Fox, Pam Wallace and Todd Carpien, whose function appears to resemble that of a challenged Greco/Roman chorus.
They are later joined by LB Rogers, who keeps up her end of the bargain beautifully. Of course the brothers reunite by the end of the show, with hugs galore and a large helping of Tortellini joy. These are the bare bones of the story, filled to the brim with stock characters, but three elements ratchet up this crazy concoction to more than enjoyable heights.
First is the zest and skill of the actors, who all were enjoying themselves immensely with an energy that translates directly to the audience, and I know I sat with a broad grin on my face throughout the show, laughing along often with the rest of the onlookers. I was told that the cast had never once rehearsed in the actual space, but they handled it, pratfalls and all, with the ease of people who had been using it for weeks.
Second is the very clever dialogue, Mr. Barliebs best in my opinion, with marvelous zingers like "your penury has reached microscopic proportions!" scattered throughout the script and delivered with gusto.
And third is the set, simply but evocatively realized by the directors three built trellises, hung with tiny lights, and an assortment of columns, boxes and statuary which engagingly capture the spirit of Old Italy.
Costumes are appropriately Roman: togas for the guys and shorter outfits for most of the women, treating the audience to some very pretty legs. Soft happy music often plays under the dialog, further adding to the cheerful atmosphere. This production had especially remarkable qualities under the circumstances Ive mentioned, and the whole piece was presented with a prologue and epilogue, charmingly read by Pam Wallace, which introduced and closed the action very satisfactorily.
A few typical small opening night bugs will be dealt with speedily, and I have just one caution: dont go to see this play when you are hungry! The mention of so many Italian culinary delights will set you thinking about your favorite plate of pasta, but certainly your appetite for an evening of very funny, silly hi-jinx will be more than satisfied.
'The Brothers Tortellini' continues through October 26. For show times and ticket information, please visit www.ckplayers.com