Friday, February 24, 2006, Section: Features, Page ET10 Dateline: Corvallis
By Heather Crabtree
The Entertainer
Over the top, plus one step further is the only way to describe Albany Civic Theater?s production of Steve Martin?s "The Underpants."
The play which opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at ACT, 111 First Ave., Albany is funny and bold. It is not suitable for children.
Additional performances will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 25, March 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11; and at 2:30 p.m. March 5.
This colorful, adult comedy will give you a side ache from laughing so hard even if you don?t catch all the jokes hidden among the set. (Hint: Look closely, read everything.)
The set is the first thing you will notice. The bright primary colors are almost assaulting. The vibrant tones force you to open your eyes and look, and even question if it?s a recycled set from "Suessical, the Musical" the colors are that bold.
But it?s not.
Director John Elliott designed the elaborate backdrop for this production and even has the model to prove it.
Since 1993, Elliott has worked on productions at ACT from acting and directing, to sound, sets and lights. He?s brought this production together right down to the minute details and connects it with its German roots.
"I read the play, and I wanted to do something in the style since [Sternheim?s farce] came out in the beginning of German Expressionism," Elliott said. "I loved the style of painting and really like Karl Schmidt-Rottluff."
His set is based on one of Schmidt-Rottluff?s paintings from 1910. You can see the same wild patterns from the painting weaved onto the three-dimensional set.
But this show has more than just good looks.
Four of the seven cast members are new to the ACT stage. Two of them are taking on the lead roles in the comedy, however, you wouldn?t know it by the way they take Martin?s adaptation over the top.
Adrienne Newman, who plays Louise Maske, does an excellent job portraying the young and unfulfilled woman. She carries a wide-eyed, far away look perfectly, and can still make you laugh until you cry.
Erik Esrael is also a riot, but for different reasons. He plays Theo Maske, a man who is worried about losing his job after his wife loses her underpants during a parade right as the king passes. The character is boisterous, loud and very masculine. The funny part is he gets to remain clueless through the play as to what the new tenants leasing their spare room really want from Louise.
Cameron McFee, though no stranger to ACT, will make you snort with laughter. McFee plays Klinglehoff, another man who wants to lease the Maske?s spare room. His character can only be described as sneaky and eccentric as he enters the Maske residence to look over the living space without anyone around. He goes as far as dusting his white glove across tabletop and window frame. What really makes Klinglehoff perfect, though, is the fact that he looks like Doc Brown from "Back to the Future" or Einstein if you want a German connection.
In addition to the traditional ensemble needed for this production, Elliott created a band to play during scene changes because he noted that each had musical talent and he wanted to include them, he said.
The four-piece band plays a traditional German song, translated to English. Elliott took the translation and made it fit the rhythm, he said.
Additional cast members include: Eric Jones as Frank Versati; Jack McClaskey as Benjamin Cohen; Shelley Moon as Gertrude Deuter; and Chuck Skinner as the King.
The band ensemble includes: Dennis Glidden on guitar and vocals; Robert Waterhouse on fiddle and singing; Sarah Roth on trombone; Lonna "Sapphire" Kapachi singing; and Harriet "Ruby" Nixon singing.
ET100224 Photo Caption: Crabtree, Heather Over the top, plus one step further is the only way to describe Albany Civic Theater?s production of Steve Martin?s "The Underpants." The play which opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at ACT, 111 First Ave., Albany is funny and bold. It is not suitable for children. Additional performances will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 25, March 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11; and at 2:30 p.m. March 5.