Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me A Tenor” is a farce that earns its many
big laughs. The popular playwright has set this show at a fancy hotel in
Cleveland, circa 1938, and it has a cute period feel that just adds to the
jokes.
The setting and the show’s focus on an opera company and its guest tenor also
call for a glam look, which means many of the performers get to rush around
doing ridiculous things while wearing fabulous clothes. A pretty sweet gig for
the actors, for sure, but when the show is done well, it is also a lot of fun
for the rest of us.
In the current Clinton Area Showboat Theatre production, directed by Craig A.
Miller (CAST’s producing artistic director), fun is definitely not in short
supply.
Joshua Estrada stars as Max, the put-upon opera company staffer charged with
keeping an eye on the out-of-town talent, and the nervous intensity he lends the
character is perfectly done. All a-dither about the responsibility associated
with baby-sitting a temperamental star — and anxious about the proposal he
tendered to his boss’ daughter, who is ambivalent about their possibilities —
Estrada’s Max is a spring wound so tight it probably hurts.
This performer is wildly engrossed in the role, and you can practically hear a
“sproing” when his eyes bug out at each of a series of hilarious misfortunes. He
is slightly spastic without being twitchy, and his fantastic line readings draw
huge laughs every single time.
Kay Ann Allmand is also hilarious as Maggie, Max’s erstwhile (and equally
uptight) girlfriend. Her facial expressions change quickly, revealing thoughts
as swiftly as they cross her character’s mind. Large, expressive eyes and a gift
for compact physical shtick round out her superb performance.
Will Morgan is funny and slightly larger-than-life as Tito Merelli, the star
tenor, and his belligerent paroxysms are quite entertaining (though he did slip
in and out of the cheesy accent Merelli is supposed to have). Alison Nicole Luff,
who plays the operatic Mrs. Merelli, is perfectly fiery, playing well off of
Morgan’s bluster (though I wished the tailoring and fabric of her costume had
been from the period).
As the fawning, sarcastic hotel bellhop, Steven Piechocki almost walks away with
the scenes he’s in, and Mark X. Laskowski is very good as Saunders, the opera
company director who loves to pontificate. Playing the fussy Julia, from the
opera company’s board of directors, the ever-effervescent Nicole Horton is as
excellent as usual. As Diana, a local opera singer who hopes to make it big —
one way or another — Jennifer Gilbert turns in excellent work. (Her big scene
with Morgan, when Merelli totally misunderstands her meaning of the word
“professional,” is absolutely hilarious.)
An all-together excellent production, this “Lend Me A Tenor” is a first-class
farce. Don’t you dare miss it.