By Eva Trieger in Ramona, California
The farce, a genre that dates back to the Middle Ages, made its mark on Jewish culture in the form of Moe, Curly and Shemp. The original three stooges were children of Lithuanian Jews who’d emigrated to Brooklyn. Three brothers Moses, Jerome and Samuel Horwitz performed exaggerated comic routines combined with physical comedy, drawing the attention and affection of audiences everywhere. While the writers of farce hailed from England, France and the United States, the elements remained constant. Absurd plots, mistaken identities and slapstick moments define the art form. While Scripps Ranch Theatre’s offering may be more sophisticated than the Three Stooges, these meshugena models are relevant today.
What is it about those eccentric divas and overblown egos that we’ve come to expect from actors? What accounts for their curious predilections and inflated sense of import?
To answer these questions, I recently enjoyed a telephone interview with director Christopher Williams, whose next production is Scripps Ranch Theatre’s Theatre People or The Angel Next Door.
Brilliant and prolific playwright, Paul Slade Smith, may be familiar to you for Unnecessary Farce and The Outsider. Smith has been commissioned to write Beside Myself, and Theatre People or The Angel Next Door. If you need any convincing that Smith knows comedy, go see him in North Coast Rep’s current show, Scapin.
Theatre People is set in 1940s Newport, Rhode Island, where Oliver Adams, an author, is about to publish his novel about the well-known diva, Margot Bell, with whom he is madly in love. Broadway playwrights Charlotte and Arthur Sanders have adapted Adam’s novel for the stage, but not without some hiccups. Like every good farce, the communications get convoluted and people are never what they seem. The requisite thin walls and easily misinterpreted situations lend a zaniness to the show.
Williams shared that he loves directing comedies, and nothing makes him happier than hearing audiences laugh. “It’s like gold, and people from all over the world connect through laughter.” And in fact, the actor/director shared that comedies are more dependent on audience feedback during the performance. There is more give and take. Williams likened the comedy to a musical score with a rhythm that must be heard and strictly adhered to. Timing is critical in a farce, and actors must know when to leave an extra beat following laugh lines so that the next lines don’t get trampled on.
The cast was hand-picked by Williams and Artistic Director, Jill Drexler:
Kenny Bordieri (Oliver) has appeared on many stages around town and in Utah. Danny Campbell (Arthur) is an actor and acting teacher, who has performed in the Independent Shakespeare Company in Los Angeles. Sandy Campbell, actor/director, (Olga), has performed at several area theatres including La Jolla Playhouse and The Old Globe. John DeCarlo (Victor) may be considered a “regular” at SRT, as well as other San Diego venues. Melissa Fernandes (Charlotte) , actor/ artistic director, has appeared in many shows all over the county, but is making her SRT debut! Taylor Henderson (Margot) is a multitalented artist who has performed in San Diego and Las Vegas. The cast is cohesive and seems to have a great deal of fun working together, according to Williams. Fun fact: Many of these actors are married to other actors and other ….theatre people!
Interestingly, Williams stated that the pandemic may have actually made the theatre climate in San Diego even tighter and more unified. The theatres pool their resources and work cooperatively. Other directors have also made mention of the fact that rather than competing with one another, our theatres seem to lean on and support each other.
Does Theatre People or The Angel Next Door have a message or is it just a romp? Williams reflected for a moment and then told me, “Yes, follow your dreams. There will be bumps in the road but you can achieve your dreams if you work hard and are surrounded by the right people. And maids are always funny!”
Who were Williams’ role models? Largely the actor/director pointed to his teachers, one of whom is his wife, Tracy Williams. Theatre educator and mentor. He also credited Leslie Brott and Randy Messersmith with nurturing his love of acting and skill on stage.
Christopher Williams is eager to cater to our theatre-going community and along with Scripps Ranch Theatre, looks forward to bringing laughter and levity to transport us from the current issues and problems we’re all dealing with, if only for a few hours. As much as I enjoy seeing the glitterati and their finery, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the maid
Theatre People or The Angel Next Door will run from August 27-September 20. Tickets may be purchased at 858.395.0573 or online at scrippsranchtheatre.org.
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the coverage of the arts.