Published Thursday, December 1, 2011, 8:40 PM
Milton Berle (“Mr. Tuesday Night”) was a talented performer but perhaps best known for his comedic endeavors when dressed up in women’s clothing.
People, throughout history, generally have felt that a man dressed as a woman is more bone-tickling than a woman dressed as a man.
In Azuka Theatre’s Act a Lady, which ran through November 20 in the in Azuka's new home at the First Baptist Church at 17th and Sansom Streets in Center City, you get both. Act a Lady was the premiere production in the most welcome and impressive new theatre space, and director Kevin Glaacum did a fabulous job of making use of that space on stage.
Leah Walton, who portrayed the tightly-wound and conservative Dorothy, reluctantly agreed to let a town perform a little show by asking "When’s this Devil thing start practice?" Walton showed great comedic timing, and her accordion-playing and singing only cemented the deal.
Amanda Schoonover, who never disappoints, did a great job of playing the masculine female director, Zina. As her character stated, "When I need to work something out, I like to find a young person and rob them of their virtue." She is also delightful as her alter ego, Casper.
Mike Dees (Miles/Lady Romola), Matt Tallman (True/Countess Roquefort) and Jamison Foreman (Casper/Greta the Maid) did a nice job of portraying the folksy men in overalls who desperately want to put on a show. Foreman gave a particularly solid performance as Greta the Maid and his alter-ego Casper, who is coping with his own identity issues.
While the gender-switching was interesting, the characters animated and the performances solid, Jordan Harrison’s play seemed to lose steam as the evening progressed. As we were told, "It was a night for stompin’ out sins," but this reviewer just wishes they had gotten stomped out a little faster.
The next production for Azuka Theatre will be Hope Street and Other Lonely Places, which will run from March 15 – April 1.
Comments