The source of the hilarious comedy, 'The Ladies Man', now playing in the Centenary Stage Company's Sitnik Theatre is the French playwright Georges Feydeau's comedy 'The Ladies’ Dressmaker' freely translated and adapted by Charles Morey. This quote from Feydeau provides more than a clue to the plot of 'The Ladies Man', "Whenever two of my characters absolutely, positively under any circumstances shouldn't meet, I put them in the same room together." What he has created with Moray's assistance is one of the funniest, madcap comedies of this or any other season. First...a warning...this not a cerebral event...don't look too closely....this fast-paced farce, particularly Act Two, is to be enjoyed without too much concern for logical situations, excessive silliness or occasional French accent lapses.
This handsome production is directed by the Centenary Stage Company's Artistic Director and frequent star, Carl Wallnau. Not only a fine director of comedy, he is also a master of casting. He wisely chose for the leading role, Dr. Hercule Molineaux, the star of CSC's 2010 'Oliver' (Fagan) Carl Wallnau. Carl is perfect in this wacky role.
His skill in casting is also evident in the supporting cast led by one of our favorite NJ acting treasures, Liz Zazzi, who plays the Doctor's Mother-in-Law from Hell, Madame Aigreville. No one makes an entrance as grand, with the support of Mozart, as she does. Another favorite is Allen Lewis Rickman, direct from Broadway ('Relatively Speaking'), who is hysterical as a patient (Bassinet) with a unique speech impediment and a missing wife. The good doctor has an extremely faithful valet masterfully played for laughs by Robert Anthony Jones. Rounding out the cast are three very attractive ladies and one towering handsome Prussian officer. The doctor's young wife is in the able hands of a newcomer (actually a CSC intern) the lovely Alycia M. Kunkle. All French drawing room comedies would not be complete without the obligatory sexy maid....filling that role perfectly is Jaclyn Ingoglia as maid Marie. Last are the Aubins....Suzanne Aubin is the over-sexed wife of the Prussian officer, Gustav Aubin. Suzanne is played by the young and vivacious Ashley Kowzun. Gustav, the jealous Prussian officer (in full uniform including a helmet) is played with the appropriate amount of blustering and gusto by Colin Ryan.
The play is set, early in the 20th century, in the second-floor Parisian parlor of the Molineaux residence that serves as his office and later in a dressmaker's shop that's more suited for men than women. Dr. Molineaux is married to a beautiful young wife, Yvonne, who passionately calls out "Tiger, Tiger" during love making, his totally unacceptable reaction is to giggle destroying all romantic thought (and ability). The result is that he takes to sleeping alone in his study claiming the reason is that his wife snores. As the play opens, his wife discovers that he has not been home all night with the only explanation possible to her (and her mother) is that he spent the night in a palace of sin. In truth, he spent the night on a park bench in the pouring rain (disregard the fact that he returns in the morning in neat dinner clothes) after a failed rendezvous at the Moulin Rouge with his amorous patient, Suzanne Aubin. What can he do... admit his indiscretion? No, instead he concocts a mammoth lie about sitting up with a near-death patient. What follows is lie, after lie, leading to a series of mistaken identities and embarrassing situations worthy of the Marx Brothers. Be prepared...this is a laugh out loud event.
Production credits: The elegant set was designed by Emmy Award winner Bob Phillips (Sesame Street), the Stage Manager is Kathryn China Hayzer, lighting by Ed Matthews, sound design by Michael Magnifico, and superior costumes by Julia Sharp.
Reviewed by Rick Busciglio February 17, 2012
The Ladies Man opened at Centenary Stage Company on February 17th and runs through March 4th. Performance times are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 PM, Sundays at 2PM, Thursdays (Family Nights) at 7:30 PM, with one additional matinee performances on Wed, Feb 22 at 2 PM. A student matinee is offered on Wednesday, February 29th at 10 A.M. with discounted ticket prices for school groups with advance reservations Ticket prices are $20 - $25, with discounts for seniors and students. Thursday evenings are “Family Nights” with two-for-one “rush” tickets available at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.centenarystageco.org, by calling (908) 979-0900, or in person at the Lackland Center at 715 Grand Ave in Hackettstown, with box office hours from 1-5 Monday through Friday, and two hours prior to performances. Performances will take place in the Sitnik Theater of the David and Carol Lackland in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit, professional Equity theatre, in residence at Centenary College.
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