You never know what to expect from Crowded Kitchen Players – classic dramas and comedies from the repertoire or original productions like “Unspeakable,” and “A Softening of Her Eyes.”
Now, producer and playwright Ara Barlieb has wrapped a new play about 1930s gender politics around a 2,400-year-old Greek anti-war commentary and come up with “Topsy Turvy,” a light-hearted look at war, sexual harassment, feminism, and the male dominion. Aristophanes may be rolling in his grave, but Barlieb respectfully salutes the burlesque nature of the ancient work.First we find ourselves in 1930s Hollywood with Louise Antoinette (Trish Cipoletti) challenging the studio power structure in the form of the imposing Max Steinberg (Tom Harrison). He’s willing to give this uppity woman a shot at directing her own film but only at a certain unacceptable price.
She rejects his aggressive advances but, faced with the familiar “give in or get out,” what’s a girl to do' She makes the movie, of course.
So off she goes to direct and star in Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata,” the classic bawdy romp in which the heroine famously convinces her Athenian lady friends to withhold sexual favors until their men put a stop to the Peloponnesian War. As director/leading lady, Cipoletti becomes the Hellenic heroine; but despite heroic efforts to transform war into peace, she faces the same challenges as Louise: Men aren’t going to give up their power without a fight.
Though the dramatic set-up is based in both 411 B.C. and the 1930s, Barlieb’s play is aimed squarely at the present day: “Me, Too” advocates should be delighted. The script is brimming with fast and funny asides that were not always audible in the rapid-fire pace of opening night, but there were still many giggles as Louise tries to out-smart the domineering Max.
The CKP entourage of 16 doubles up into 27 characters, by my count, but they handle the script well, delighting the audience with comedic cameos as unemployable actors. Assisted by a frustrated casting director played by Todd Carpien, Louise expects the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Claudette Colbert to audition, but Max has made sure she only gets the leftovers who, one by one, demonstrate why they never get any roles. The extended scene of their try-outs is a giggle fest.
Of course there is a Greek chorus, and this one appears in the form of a team from the dreaded Legion of Decency that rated motion pictures on the suitability of their content. Films of the real “Lysistrata” would have gotten a “C” for “condemned, as would our current “Topsy Turvy.” Because of the adult themes, “Topsy Turvy” is unlikely to appeal to kids and teens anyway.
The cast also features Carla Hadley as Angie, Brian Wendt as Lawrence, Bruce Brown as Rex, Dan Ferry as Ambrose, Florence Taylor as Lola, Julisa Trinidad as Glynis, Tatiana Torres as Colleen, Jerry Brucker as Russell and Lawrence, Nancy Welsh as JoJo, Emily Kreiger as Mitzi, Michelle Star as Miss Legion of Decency, Donald M. Swan Jr. as Security, and Alexandra Racines as Alex.
“Topsy Turvy” plays at 8 p.m. June 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. June 16, at the IceHouse, 56 River St., Bethlehem; tickets are $18 adults, $14 seniors, and $10 students. 610-395-7176.