Toby Roach, Christian Conn and Carson Elrod in background (Photo:Richard Termine)
It seems like only yesterday that David Ives’s wildly irreverent
adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s rarely seen or produced 17th century boulevard
comedy (“Le Menteur”) tickled my funny bone at the Shakespeare Theatre of New
Jersey. But I was ready to enjoy and laugh heartily again at the CSC
production. I did.
Aside from such plays as “All in the Timing,” “Is He Dead?”, and “Venus in Fur,” Ives's
ability to give a classic comedy the gift of his audacious playfulness had
previously been proven about six years ago at this same theater with his adaptation
of Moliere’s “The Misanthrope” which he called “The School for Lies.” Of
course, hilarious.
Although “The Liar” has been fibbing his way around the globe since the world
premiere at Washington's Shakespeare Theatre Company in 2010, this production,
under the exuberantly playful direction of Michael Kahn, who directed the
premiere in Washington, has been cast
with some wonderfully deft pretenders and artful poseurs, all adept at the
hitting the mark on all those rhymed couplets. If the pentameter-propelled text
comes at us faster than a speeding bullet, so do the riotous convolutions of
the purposefully silly plot. But who really cares? We are, nevertheless,
intrigued enough to follow the amorous misadventures of a country lawyer/egotistical
would-be Casanova named Dorante (Christian Conn), as he gets deeper and deeper
in the maze he creates with his lies among the Parisian aristocracy. His
self-incriminating dilemmas are set in motion with his telling a trio of
strolling lovely ladies that he is a distinguished soldier returned from the
wars.
The situation is set up delightfully by Cliton (a crafty and chipper performance by Carson Elrod), a vagrant who cleverly reveals to us that he cannot tell a lie. He does seize upon the opportunity to become a valet to the well-dressed Dorante when he targets him while walking in the Tuileries Garden. The smartly minimalist setting designed by Alexander Dodge accommodates the few pieces of movable objects to make its case. It is a kick to see a chandelier make its descent whenever an exterior locale becomes an interior.
Soon enough Cliton becomes Dorante's unwitting collaborator in his master's recklessly misguided wooing of the lovely and impetuous Clarice (Ismenia Mendes), her winsome best friend Lucrece (Amelia Pedlow) and their respective servants, both played with a comical contrast of personality by Kelly Hutchinson for the usual comedy of errors results. Conn is terrific and often hilarious as the incorrigibly self-serving Dorante who divulges an elaborately plotted but never really executed seduction of Clarice to his best friend Alcippe (Tony Roach.) That's when things get complicated. Not only is Alcippe secretly betrothed to Clarice, but she also is plotting with Lucrece, who secretly loves Dorante. This does not take into account the machinations of Dorante's father Geronte, played by a warm but sometimes bellowing Adam Lefevre to get a wife for his son.
The situation is set up delightfully by Cliton (a crafty and chipper performance by Carson Elrod), a vagrant who cleverly reveals to us that he cannot tell a lie. He does seize upon the opportunity to become a valet to the well-dressed Dorante when he targets him while walking in the Tuileries Garden. The smartly minimalist setting designed by Alexander Dodge accommodates the few pieces of movable objects to make its case. It is a kick to see a chandelier make its descent whenever an exterior locale becomes an interior.
Soon enough Cliton becomes Dorante's unwitting collaborator in his master's recklessly misguided wooing of the lovely and impetuous Clarice (Ismenia Mendes), her winsome best friend Lucrece (Amelia Pedlow) and their respective servants, both played with a comical contrast of personality by Kelly Hutchinson for the usual comedy of errors results. Conn is terrific and often hilarious as the incorrigibly self-serving Dorante who divulges an elaborately plotted but never really executed seduction of Clarice to his best friend Alcippe (Tony Roach.) That's when things get complicated. Not only is Alcippe secretly betrothed to Clarice, but she also is plotting with Lucrece, who secretly loves Dorante. This does not take into account the machinations of Dorante's father Geronte, played by a warm but sometimes bellowing Adam Lefevre to get a wife for his son.
The real pleasures of this hardly risqué but stunningly convoluted romp are not derived by following its contrivances (impossible), but in falling in line with the constant barrage of giddily contemporized rhymes that drive this daffy farce and by the charm of the actors delivering it. Enormous credit goes to this fine cast that nevertheless strikes their respective 17th century poses with consummate skill and panache. The 17th century haute couture designed by Murell Horton is spectacular and adds additional luster to this grand and funny show.
Classic Stage Company 136 East 13th Street
From 01/11/17 Opened 01/26/17 Ends 02/26/17
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