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Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul Play It Again, Sam Also see Arty's reviews of The Daughter of the Regiment and The Matchmaker
Play It Again, Sam draws from the same vein of humor that made Allen a successful 1960s stand-up comedian. The stand-in Woody Allen character is film critic Allan Felix whom we meet in his Manhattan apartment as his wife Nancy is leaving after two years of marriage, wanting someone more confident, more adventurous and more fun. Allan is devastated, but his best friend Dick swoops in, along with his wife Linda, to boost Allan's morale, and persuade him that he is well rid of Nancy and will soon have his pick of any number of attractive, available girls. Allan is doubtful. The ghost of Bogart materializes to coach him on handling the ladies. While some of Bogey's tips are wildly inappropriate, his advice that Allan be himself and not worry about impressing his date is on target, but, for Allan, far easier said than done. Dick and Linda set Allan up with a parade of single gals, leading to one disastrous date after another. While the mismatches between Allan and these women are comically apparent, his anxiety and feelings of desperation also undermine his chances. Flashbacks and fantasies of Nancy also erode his spirits. The only woman with whom Allan can be himself is Linda, his best friend's wife. In fact, Dick is very busy, day and night, with his work. A running joke has Dick calling his office to leave phone numbers at which he can be reached (not just pre-cell phone, but pre-answering machine) so much that Linda is feeling insecure. Allan and Linda find themselves spending a lot of time together. Can you see where this is heading? Predictable or not, it all ends well with Allan, thanks to coaching from Bogey and confidence-building from Linda—ready to face the challenge of starting over. The simple moral at the core—being yourself is best—is heavily garnished with jokes, most of them quite funny. A fair number were no doubt considered racy in 1969, but are tame by 2015 standards. The same can be said for the basic plot, the campaign to make sad-sack Allan into a groovy lothario. Under Peter Moore's sure-footed direction and the efforts of a game cast it all works, treating the material with the affection given to mementoes of a sweetly remembered past. The look and feel of the show is a valentine to the late 1960s. The costumes are spot on late-mod, down to the broad headband Linda wears in her hair. Allan's apartment is an assemblage of mismatched nondescript mid-century furniture from back when nobody could imagine it would someday be sought after as vintage decor. Casting for a comedy can be a tricky business, requiring actors who can deliver a joke without pausing for the rim shot, allowing the humor to be woven within the context of the play. The lead role in Play It Again, Sam has the additional challenge of portraying a young Woody Allen type, without doing an outright impersonation. Alex Brightwell borders on the latter in the play's first minutes, but as it progresses, he increasingly makes Allan Felix his own creation, an entertaining mix of nervous energy, feigned bravado, quick wit and a tender heart, and by the play's end, Brightwell had won me over. As Dick, Jordan Brent Wolfe has just the right tone for a guy who thinks he is a great husband and friend, oblivious to how far he is slipping off the mark. He also manages to characterize the male chauvinism of the era without becoming despicable. Haley Sisler imbues Linda with warmth and empathy for Allan, and gradually reveals her own insecurities, which are pivotal to the turns in the plot. Emily Thorkildson presents Allan's ex Nancy as seen through his eyes: shallow, self-serving, and insensitive. In a departure from the original, the key character of Humphrey Bogart does not appear on stage. Rather, a spotlight shines on one of the numerous poster images film critic Allan has on his walls, and Bogey's distinctive voice is heard spouting words of wisdom, the voice ably provided by Tim Russel, master of a multitude of voices as a member of Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" radio troupe. Play It Again, Sam is the first production under the banner of Artistry, the new name for the Bloomington Theater and Art Center, including the constituent Bloomington Civic Theatre. It is running in their Black Box Theater, an intimate house well suited to this modest entertainment. Woody Allen's play is worth visiting for its abundant laughs, which remain funny even with the passing decades, and to recall a kind of comedy we no longer create, based on stereotyped notions of male and female. It may be outdated, but Artistry's production, well-oiled and dusted with affection, offers an enjoyable look back. Play It Again, Sam continues through August 2, 2015, at Artistry (formerly the Bloomington Civic Theatre), 1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. Tickets: $25.00 - $27.00; $4.00 per ticket discount for seniors, age 62 and up; $8.00 per ticket discount for ages 25 and younger. For tickets call 952-563-8375 or go to artistrymn.org. Writer: Woody Allen; Director: Peter Moore; Set Design: Angelique Powers; Costume Design: Cindy Forsgren; Lighting Design: Kiki Mead; Sound Design: Dan Smeiska; Props Design: Sarah Holmberg; Production Manager and Technical Director: Chris Carpenter; Production Stage Manager: Lee Johnson Cast: Megan Ballew (Gina), Alex Brightwell (Allan Felix), Bailey Murphy (Sharon), Nissa Nordland (Go-Go Girl), Meg Olson (Barbara), Tim Russel (Bogey), Natalie Schmit (Sharon Lake), Siddeeqah Shabazz (Vanessa), Haley Sisler (Linda Christie), Emily Thorkildson (Nancy), Elizabeth Wolfe (Intellectual Girl), Jordan Brent Wolfe (Dick Christie).
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