Teed off
by Michael Dresdner
L to R: Russell, Fry, Bolek, Ferguson, McClure, Torwick photo by DK Photography
Farce, as its etymology suggests, is forced; over-the-top characters
in similarly exaggerated situations. Fox on the Fairway, now at Tacoma Little
Theatre, is unabashedly billed as such, and true to form, absurdity clings to
both the plot and characters.
Playwright Ken Ludwig has written a lot of farces, but this
time he left no cliché unturned, rehashing all of the elements that, when taken
in moderation, provided welcome chuckles in his other plays. The convoluted
plot is heavily larded with low-brow sexual humor, unlikely mood swings, and
ridiculous clothing, all peppered liberally with excess shouting and frenetic
physicality. Add a laugh track and you might be watching one of those
lamentable yet inexplicably popular 80’s TV sitcoms like Three’s Company.
All the action takes place in bar at a golf country club. Rival
golf club presidents Henry Bingham (Andrew Fry) and Dickie Bell (George McClure)
make an excessive bet on the upcoming yearly match, each believing he has an
ace in the hole. Bell’s brashness extends to his outlandish clothing,
consistently misquoted phrases, and a penchant for fornication, and he goads
the more upright Bingham in more ways than one.
Meanwhile, new employee and secret golf whiz kid Justin Hicks
(Rodman Bolek) is in love with club factotem Louise Heindbedder (Tracy
Torwick). When he’s pressed into playing the tournament, he shines, until he is
emotionally derailed by a glitch in their engagement. Adding to the tumult is libidinous
club VP Pamela Peabody (Stacia Russell), who has a schwarm for Henry Bingham, and
Henry’s wife Muriel (Shelleigh-Mairi Ferguson) who conveniently feels the same
way about Dickie Bell. After a few surprises, a lot of sturm und drang, and an
excess of hideous golf outfits, everyone ends up, as is often the case in
Ludwig plays, happy and heterosexually paired off.
The set by Burton K Yuen and scenic artist James Venturini, with
stage dressing and props by Jeffery
Weaver, was elegantly spot on; beautiful and convincing. Intentionally outre
outfits by costumer Michele Graves were both eye-catching and thoroughly
appropriate. The same can be said for lighting (Pavlina Morris) and sound
design (Darren Hembd.)
Say what you will about this genre and style but the audience
on opening night spent an appropriate amount of time laughing it up. I suppose
that’s a recommendation all by itself.
Fox on the Fairway
April 17 to May 3, 2015
Tacoma Little Theatre
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