Death by Design Play Newport Theater Arts Center Review
Two of the well-nigh iconic theater and literary personalities of the '30s are Noël Coward and Agatha Christie, so why not come across what results from crossing their styles and genres?
That's exactly what Rob Urbinati does with "Death by Design." The play depicts the goings-on at the country home of a well-heeled playwright and his actress wife, where the light comedic temper is shattered by the murder of one of the couple's guests.
Ready in England in 1932, the play debuted in 2011. Newport Theatre Arts Center's production of the play's 2013 revised version has the disinction of beingness the play's Orange Canton premiere.
It's also loaded with Coward-like lightheartedness and, after the murder, a touch of Christie-like atmosphere. We're meant to savor both elements, and with Brian Page'due south well-chosen cast and savvy direction, and Andrew Otero and Claudia Berglund'southward '30s set and costumes, nosotros do exactly that.
Playwright Edward Bennett (Floyd Harden) and married woman, Sorel (Carla Naragon), are expressionless ringers for David and Judith Bliss from Coward'due south "Hay Fever": wealthy, witty, pampered and interested in one and 1 matter only – themselves.
As in "Hay Fever," each has invited guests for the weekend without telling the other. These include Fellow member of Parliament Walter Pearce (Alan Slabodkin), political radical Eric (Cody Michael Perry), Maverick Victoria Van Roth (Jane Nunn) and late-arriving visitor Alice (Hayley Jackson).
The Christie-like murder angle arises from Walter'south ambivalent with virtually of the other guests. The dull, stodgy pol vows that he "volition put this country on the right rail" and threatens to cut off regime funding of "artists, Bohemians and radicals."
In his eyes, they're "raving mad" and "moral degnerates." That, naturally, gives nearly everyone around him viable motives for killing him.
The Bennetts' maid, Bridgit (Gina Treasure), a murder buff who reads offense tabloids, relishes the chance to play apprentice sleuth. Standing over the body, she makes the pronouncement, "No one leaves this room until I observe out who murdered Walter Pearce!"
And, knowing all of the goings-on of everyone effectually her, she's the most well-equipped to do then.
The characters in this pleasingly loopy souffle spout witty dialogue and are equally daffy and blunt as any of Coward's. The play is more than Coward retread than homage, and more Christie homage than parody, and via the text and Page's direction, the tone is one of calorie-free flippancy.
Harden'due south Edward admits his Coward-style plays are "shallow commercial entertainment," and the script indulges his rallying cry for the theater arts: "A life without theater is a life not worth living!"
Urbinati's cleverness extends to his working in of rhymes of his characters' names, usually as one of Edward's quips – hence nosotros get Alice/malice, Eric/hysteric, Sorel/quarrel and Victoria/euphoria.
Walter'south political stance and beliefs might tempt many to see the character and his statements equally anti-Trump barbs – but any similarity is coincidental, considering that "Pattern" was written several years earlier Trump entered politics.
Treasure'south very Irish Bridgit most walks off with her every scene, whether muttering nether her breath or rattling off a list of deadly poisons. As enjoyable are Naragon's cheerfully doltish Sorel and Ben Straley's easygoing ladies man, the Cockney chauffer, Jack.
Perry looks a little too fresh-faced to be apparent as a danger to lodge, merely the young actor does capture his tart-tongued manner.
In that location's fun, too, in seeing Nunn's daffy Victoria's dippy ways, or watching Slabodkin'south very proper Walter (who could stand more of an edge) being treated with "insolence" by Bridgit and Jack.
"Decease past Design" is an enjoyable trifle – no modern classic, simply nonetheless well worth your time.
'Death by Design'
When: Through Oct. 15. 8 p.chiliad. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.g. Oct. 14
Where: Newport Theater Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach
Tickets: $20
Length: Virtually ii hours
Suitability: All ages
Info: 949-631-0288, ntaconline.com
Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/19/death-by-design-crosses-coward-with-christie/
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