by Emily Edelman
February 14-16 performances POSTPONED
Though Ghent Playhouse’s presentation of Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor” runs for just two weeks and six performances, it has already sold out several of those performances and it’s easy to see why: Ludwig’s very funny and fast-paced farce gets an uplift from the Playhouse’s solid production values and director Ed Dignum’s creative staging.
In this story of an opera house that hires a famous singer to perform only to have him compromised at the last minute, confusion and laughter abound thanks to mistaken identities, a starstruck fan, a jealous wife, a forward starlet, and other elements. Comedic timing is paramount in a farce and Dignum’s spirited cast meets expectation. Brian Edward commands the stage as tenor Tito and gives an outstanding performance. Meg Dooley as grand-dame board chair Julia provides extra comic relief in an already hilarious play — her exaggerated romantic inclinations toward Tito had the audience in guffaws. Lara Denmark’s Maggie is a bit too subdued and Patrick Heffernan’s Max is a bit too relaxed, but the two match each other’s energy and their portrayals work well together. Brian Yorck’s Bellhop is both endearing and enterprising.
“Lend Me a Tenor” has been a favorite of both theaters and audiences for nearly 40 years, and only a few chances remain to relieve the winter blues with Ghent Playhouse’s vibrant rendition. The show runs through Sunday, Feb. 23. February 14-16 performances POSTPONED
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Written by Ken Ludwig. Director: Ed Dignum. Cast: Patrick Heffernan, Lara Denmark, Mark Wilson, Brian Edward, Wanda Libardi, Brian Yorck, Amanda Boyd, Meg Dooley. Assistant director: Don Padrick. Stage manager: Kori Brown. Lighting and sound design: Michael O’Keefe. Costumer: Samantha Landy. Set design: Ed Dignum, Cathy Lee-Visscher.