Is He Dead? is just Twain wonderful
by Oscar E Moore from the rear mezzanine for Talk Entertainment.com
Can such a title sell tickets? That is the question. The undeniable answer is yes – Is He Dead? should be doing standing room only business. It’s that good. It’s at the Lyceum Theatre. It has been adapted brilliantly by David Ives from a recently discovered script by Mark Twain (written in 1898) and spiritedly directed by Michael Blakemore with Norbert Leo Butz heading the troupe of merry campers – each “farceur” adding their own bit of zaniness to the cross-dressing shenanigans going on. It is just Twain wonderful!
A while ago at the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop we were told – half in jest – that the surefire way to guarantee yourself a hit musical would be to die right before the opening. Well, Mark Twain had a similar idea and ran with it. The result was Is He Dead? A farce in the true sense of the word – using word play to poke barbs at the art world, the patrons who buy art, what constitutes art, how to get the best price for the art, the nobility, love, social mores ad infinitum. Seems Twain might have been impressed with Moliere.
And you will be mightily impressed with the production. Beautifully designed by Peter J. Davison. Act I taking place in the artist’s studio of the impoverished Jean-Francois Millet (Norbert Leo Butz) owing money to everyone and selling not a sketch let alone a painting. We expect them to start singing from La Boheme. Act II finds us in a palatial drawing room in Paris – of the cigar-toting identical twin sister widow of Millet (Norbert Leo Butz) – who has cashed in her canvases with the timely death of her twin brother. Artfully arranged so that the price of his art skyrockets. There are disguises, doors aplenty, dowagers and asides. This cast is truly an ensemble that will keep you in stitches.
Costumes by Martin Pakledinaz are equally splendid. Especially the frocks worn by Mr. Butz as his twin sister, Daisey. Millet may have been a good artist but when it came to choosing his dresses his taste was questionable. On purpose to be sure. Hair and wig man Paul Huntley should also be applauded.
Mr. Butz is the center of attraction here. And he is incredibly energetic and spry and funny and has the perfect comic timing of a cuckoo clock. But it is not his evening alone. Everyone in the cast is exceptional. I loved the two old ladies – Patricia Conolly and MaryLouise Burke – bantering back and forth. As Millet’s friends Michael McGrath, Jeremy Bobb and Tom Alan Robbins give able support to Butz. As the love interest to Millet, Marie – Jenn Gambatese is as sweet and innocent and supportive as Melanie (Olivia de Havilland) in Gone With The Wind. Her sister Cecile – Bridget Regan gets to shine as a French Police inspector. John McMartin has some senior farcical moments. The evil Bastien Andre is terrific as played by Byron Jennings. But the person who comes close to stealing the spotlight from Mr. Butz is David Pittu playing a quartet of memorable absurd comic figures. Put this on the top of your theatrical agenda. You will enjoy every minute of it. How good it is to laugh!
www.talkentertainment.com
01-29-08
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