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Regional Reviews: San Francisco World Premiere of Deborah Zoe Laufer's Comedy Fortune is a Fun, Quirky Farce Also see Richard's reviews of Caroline, or Change and Grease
Laufer, whose play The Last Schwartz broke house records at Marin last year, has fashioned a brittle word play between two brilliant comedy actors, Darren Bridgett and Julia Brothers. Bridgett's movements alone are worth the price of admission, along with his constant changes of speech. Jeremy (Darren Bridgett) is a successful CPA, lucky in business but unlucky in romance. He is one strange individual who just can't seem to get a girlfriend. One can see why within ten minutes of the comedy: the man is a nervous wreck and he just can't stay still for one moment. No wonder no one wants to get near him. Jeremy is so desperate that he goes to a fortune teller (Julia Brothers), who seems to have some occult powers, since thunder and lightning appear occasionally and the velvet-covered table seems to rise from the floor without any help. Jeremy wants to know if there is any romance forthcoming in his lonely life; if not, he is going to the nearest lamp post to hang himself. In fact, he has a hanging rope in his briefcase. Maude, whose professional name is Madame Rose, comes from a long line of gypsy fortune tellers. She sees a very short life line in Jeremy's hands and somehow takes pity on him after much bantering back and forth. Madame Rose devises a plan, and this is where the fun starts. She tells Jeremy that if he goes to the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights on Saturday he will meet the love of his life, a red-haired woman. Well, we know what will happen. Madame Rose, or Maude, dresses up as a southern belle with red hair and an accent straight out of Gone With the Wind. Poor Jeremy is not impressed with the meeting. He comes back to the fortune teller to say that it did not work. What's Madame Rose to do? Try again with a different impersonation, of course. The tactic is repeated with several other "personalities." Since this is a romantic comedy, true love must end the production, so we all know what will happen. There are elements of those old RKO screwball comedies of the '30s and '40s in these scenes. Darren Bridgett, who can play both dramatic and comedy roles, is fun to watch in this borderline farce. He plays the role as a combination of Jerry Lewis and Don Knotts. (He is a hell of a lot better looking than either, however, and you wonder why some girl doesn't just forget about his idiosyncrasies and bed the guy.) Darren's body is constantly in motion - backward, forwards and sideways - even falling to the ground in a fetal position with hands flying in all directions. If an award could be given for the best athletic performance of the year, Darren would win "hands down" (forgive the pun). He is a real hoot and it is a captivating performance. You won't forget him, I can assure you. Julia Brothers is hilarious as Madame Rose/Maude and her accent as the fortune teller is a scream. She milks each character, going over the top, but that is how it should be since this is a farce. Her character of the southern belle is like Carol Burnett playing Blanche DuBois. Her rendition of a motorcycle queen is a little too much and not very comical. Fortunately, that sequence is very short. Both Darren and Julia play well together and the timing is perfect. Fortune contains no violence or messages; it is strictly an audience-friendly comedy in these trying times. It does not demand any intellectual pursuit of the human soul. It is something to just sit back and enjoy these two veteran actors working together. Director Lee Sankowich helms a very good and fast paced production with no dull spots in the two hours, with intermission. He keeps a tight rein on the two actors who could conceivably go over the top in their characterizations. Set designer Steven Coleman has devised a very nice set with an elaborate "Arabian nights" tent of sheer pink fabric (worthy of an Yvonne De Carlo movie) that represents Madame Rose's place of business on the right side of the stage and a stark left side with only a park bench and a twisted lamp post. Occasionally, in the background, we see strikes of lightning, which are supposed to have something to do with the occult of the strange Madame Rose. Norman Kern has devised a great sound system that includes upbeat melodies sung by Harry Connick Jr. and Alanis Morissette to change scenes. He also has composed an underscore for the quick-paced changes of scene. Fortune plays through February 13 at the Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, Ca. For tickets call 415-388-5208 or online at www.marintheatre.org . Their next production is William Inge Bus Stop which opens on March 17th.
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