By Sue Suchyta
If laughter is the best medicine, then the Guild’s opening show of the season, “Inspecting Carol,” offers a sure cure for whatever blues you’re battling.
The farce by Daniel Sullivan and the Seattle Repertory Company is funny throughout. However the second act will leave you reeling with laughter. Between the sight gags, funny lines, talented cast and director Brian Townsend’s insightful and effective staging, the show offers a highly entertaining night out.
The show opened Friday, and runs for two more weekends.
The story’s premise places a play within a play: A struggling theater company must stage a successful production to raise money, sell subscriptions, and impress an NEA inspector, who has the power to decide whether their arts grant is renewed. Into the fray comes a hapless wannabe actor whom the company mistake for an NEA agent in disguise. They cater to the newcomer’s whims, which adds to the chaos and eats up most of the time set aside for rehearsal.
The result is a hysterically funny remake of “ A Christmas Carol.” The audience is treated to snippets of scenes where the physical comedy and the characters’ expressions and body language are so funny you will literally be roaring with laughter. When a ghost’s chain gets caught off stage, and you see what the actor accidently drags on stage you’ll start to laugh in earnest.
And when another actor tries to find his way around without his glasses while trying to remember lines he barely knows, the laughter is cranked up yet another notch. When Scrooge starts improvising to bring the cast back into the story, it gets funnier yet.
Producer Sydnee Dombrowski and her talented volunteer crew created a show with strong production values throughout, which make it very easy for the audience to become caught up in the action.
The entire ensemble is strong and deserves recognition. Debbie Pletzer of Canton leads the troupe as Zorah, who is very funny as the tempestuous and frantic director.
Patrick Denyer of Dearborn as Sidney and Tiffany Mullins of Westland as Dorothy make a great couple who get to deliver some small but very funny lines. Denyer has to stop people from munching on his mint-like suppositories, while Mullins has to go from a British accent to an uneducated Midwestern twang as a very novel Mrs. Cratchett.
Lindel Salow of Dearborn is very entertaining as the intellectual theater snob Larry whose crazy ideas are suddenly seeing the light of day, much to the horror of the other cast members.
Alan Ellias of Farmington Hills is likeable and laughable as Phil, a founding company member who has a lot of fun entertaining the house with his ghost chains, which seems to get caught on the most amusing objects.
Kenyada Davis of Detroit is wonderfully amusing as Walter, who is tired of being the poster child for diversity. Davis, who joined the Guild a year ago, continues to grow as an actor as he takes on more demanding roles.
Nathan Booth of Dearborn, as Luther, is funny as the only child in the company, one who has definitely outgrown the role of Tiny Tim.
Nick Graham of Belleville is hysterically funny as Kevin, the hapless company accountant.
Margaret Winowiecki of Dearborn is a scream as M.J. Her character makes the most of her droll one-liners, a talent not overlooked by the house.
Stan Guarnelo of Dearborn Heights as Bart and Kori Bielaniec of Livonia as Betty contribute to the expressive facial humor and physical humor displayed to strong effect by the ensemble.
“Inspecting Carol” will run Friday through Sunday and Oct. 2 to 4. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., with 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees.
The Guild Theatre is at 21730 Madison in Dearborn, The building is handicap accessible.
Tickets are $15. Student discounts of $2 (with valid identification) and group discounts are available. For more information, call the Guild ticket line at (313) 561-TKTS, or go to its Web site at www.playersguildofdearborn.org.
‘CURTAINS’ at DEARBORN HEIGHTS CIVIC THEATRE
The Dearborn Heights Civic Theatre presents the musical comedy whodunit “Curtains” as the first main stage show of the 2009-10 season.
It features book by Rupert Holmes, a multiple Tony Award-winner for “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Say Goodnight Gracie.” The show features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of, “Cabaret,” “Chicago” and “New York New York.”
The production is based on the original book and concept by Tony Award-winner Peter Stone (“1776,” “Titanic” and “The Will Rogers Follies”), with additional lyrics by John Kander and Rupert Holmes.
The show will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Oct. 2 and 3 at the Berwyn Center in Dearborn Heights. For tickets or more information, go to www.dhctstage.org. Adult tickets are $15, or $13 for students and seniors.
‘PHANTOM’ IS AT THE OPERA HOUSE FOR ONE MORE WEEK
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” runs for one more glorious week in the acoustically superior Detroit Opera House.
From the opening notes, the soaring music of Phantom transports one away from the mundane, and delivers the musical theater treat that reminds theater aficionados why we adore Webber’s scores.
Phantom is a visual and audio treat from start to finish. The costumes are spectacular, and the sets delightfully decadent. Even Hannibal’s faux elephant has a gleam in his eye.
Remaining performances include 8 p.m. shows Tuesday through Saturday, a 1 p.m. matinee on Thursday and a Sunday performance at 7:30 p.m.
To order tickets, call Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787.
The Detroit Opera House is at 1526 Broadway in Detroit.
For additional information, call (313) 872-1000 or go to www.BroadwayInDetroit.com.