Dip Your Toe Back Into Local Theater This Fall With This Fantastic Comedy
We live in a time where it’s easier to stream reruns of FRIENDS non-stop with a simple voice command than it is to make popcorn to enjoy while watching the show. So there’s a binary choice we all face when a free evening rolls around in our lives. One is to stay home and re-watch something yet again, another is to have an entirely unique experience that will never happen again except for that exact night. And that’s no lie!
Now at their new home, 59 Blackstone Ave in Pawtucket, Burbage Theatre Co decided to open their season with a bang, or at least a blurting of uncontrollable laughter: The School For Lies kicks off their ninth year and sets the bar high!
It's 1666 and the widow Celimene, the host of the wittiest salon in Paris, is being sued for her sharp and satiric tongue. Surrounded by shallow suitors, whom she lives off of without surrendering to, Celimene has managed to evade love since her beloved husband died—until Frank shows up. A traveler known for his own coruscating wit and acidic misanthropy, Frank turns Celimene's world upside-down, taking on her suitors, matching her barb for barb. This wild farce of furious tempo and stunning verbal display, all in very contemporary couplets, runs variations on Molière's The Misanthrope, which inspired it. Another incomparable romp from the brilliant author of All in the Timing.
The play itself is very well written, funny, socially motivated, and self-aware. But even the best plays can struggle if produced poorly, lucky for us that’s far from the case here. This production was directed by Jeff Church, one of the founding members of Burbage. As the audience we benefit from Jeff’s eye for talent and comedic opportunity. Several visual and auditory cues punctuate the inherent humor of The School For Lies which highlight this production’s many attributes. The set is tasteful, telling, and subtle yet leads your imagination into the universe of this play. And it’s a universe filled with delightful and fun performances.
James Lucey and Catia both bring powerful lead performances that sweep you up in their characters’ emotions and lives. Gabrielle McCauley will leave you holding your ribs from laughter, while Victor Neto will make you wonder if you’ve ever cried this much from finding someone so funny. Richard Noble, Vince Petronio, and Matthew Fagan are delightful each time they inhabit the stage. Andrew Iacovelli and his phenomenal physical comedy is the exclamation mark this play deserves. While Valerie Westgate continues to prove that she is a true master of the craft. She brings every character she touches to life in a way that makes you believe in theater again.
Clearly the cast and crew of this show put in the time and effort to make these two hours some of the funniest you’ll live through this season. And yes, you could stream a sitcom from your couch from quitting time Friday until commuting time on Monday. But you would be missing out. Part of the joy of live theater is that you’re a physical part of it in that moment. The room is electric, the stakes are high, and every completed show is victory. When you’re watching a play, especially a comedy (sorry tragedies…), you’re watching something that can never be rerun. It can never be streamed, you can’t pause it or remaster it. It’s unique because you never know what will happen or where the canapes might fly! And that’s why it’s so special and so worth your time and money. Because it feeds your soul in a way that nothing else can.
The School for Lies is running until October 20th, check out Burbage Theater’s website HERE for more details.
About The Author
Colin is the author of Infinite Velocity, a freelance writer, and a regular contributor to this blog.
For more from him, please check out:
@colincarlton on Twitter + Instagram