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Around the World in 80 Days - Taproot Theatre review
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"Straightforward, fast paced fun."
by David Wittstock
Five actors playing 30 roles with a dozen different dialects could have been a recipe for disaster but good acting and clear directing makes “Around the World in 80 Days” a humorous and entertaining experience.
Playing at the Taproot Theatre, “World” is directed by Scott Nolte and adapted from the Jules Verne classic by Mark Brown. For those unfamiliar with the Verne classic, “World” is the story of English adventurer Phileas Fogg who enters into a 20,000 pound bet that he can travel around the world in 80 days through a combination of rail lines and steamers. Of course there are obstacles and missteps along the way that force him to rely on his wits and the courage of friends.
The set is comprised of a giant world map with Fogg’s route and four chairs that are used to simulate everything from a train seat to steamer to horses and elephants.
Ryan Childers stars as Fogg, his third mainstage performance at Taproot (Susan and God, Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and puts in a solid performance. But Nolan Palmer, fresh off his excellent performance as Morrie Schwartz in last month’s “Tuesday’s With Morrie” steals the show as Fogg’s French assistant, Passepartout.
Andrew Litzky has the most demanding part in the play as he plays the narrator plus 17 additional characters. For the most part he pulls it off well, his American cowboy is very funny, but his British sounds Australian and he plays most roles with a strange facial expression that looks as if there is a lemon in his mouth.
The story does not waver much and wisely chooses to tell more jokes than add more plot wrinkles. “World” is straightforward, fast paced fun.
“Around the World in 80 Days” is directed by Scott Nolte and plays at the Taproot Theatre May 20 – June 20. Tickets are $26-$28 midweek/matinees and $30-$33 Friday and Saturday evenings.
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