By TR Robertson
Need a break from computer shutdowns, political rhetoric and inflation woes? If so, you have got to drive to North Coast Repertory in Solana Beach and take in the final production for their 42nd Season, “Don’t Dress for Dinner”. This fast-paced, wonderfully acted, hilarious farce will provide a fun and extremely entertaining break from everything going on around you. “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is an adaptation by Robin Hawdon of a play by French playwright Marc Camoletti called “Pyjama Pour Six” (“A Pajama for 6”). The English version of the play opened in 1991 in London at the West End at the Apollo Theatre. It had a short run on Broadway in 2012 at the American Airlines Theatre and was nominated for two Tony Awards.
The premise of the play involves a series of mistaken identities, hidden identities, deception, and lies that keep folding back on those that are lying. The farce is full of slapstick humor, twists and turns and over the top performances that has the audience constantly laughing throughout the performance. The facial expressions and exaggerated body movements of each of the performers masterfully assist in keeping the audience focused on who is who and who is pretending to be whom they are not. The dialogue is witty and at times complex and several of the performers received rounds of applause after their characters’ rapid-fire presentation of a summation of what is happening in the play.
The key to a play like “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is performances by a cast that can make the fast-paced play flow and can not miss a beat with perfect timing with the quick dialogue seen between the characters. There is no doubt that North Coast Rep has selected the perfect cast for this performance. Each performer is funny on their own and together they have presented a wonderful production of this French farce.
Playing Bernard, the bumbling husband who is attempting to have a liaison with his mistress, is Brian Robert Burns, making his North Coast Rep debut. Playing Jacqueline, Bernard’s wife who is also involved in an affair with Bernard’s best friend, is Kim Morgan Dean, returning to the North Coast Rep stage. Playing Bernard’s best friend and Jacqueline’s romantic acquaintance Robert is Brandon J. Pierce, also returning to the North Coast Rep. Veronica Dunne plays Suzette, the Cordon Bleu cook who becomes entangled in this romantic mix-up and is mistaken for a model, Bernard’s mistress, Bernard’s niece and is George’s wife. Katy Tang plays Suzanne, Bernard’s Parisian model mistress who is mistaken as a Cordon Bleu cook. Tang is a veteran of several NC Rep performances. Playing George, Suzette’s husband who stumbles into the massive mix-up toward the end of the play, is Jared Van Heel, also having performed previously in an NC Rep production.
Although each of these performers has outstanding performances, two of the performers shine for their physical humor and tremendous facial expressions. Veronica Dunne’s performance as the cook that hardly ever gets to cook, but is drawn into deceptions throughout the play, has the audience constantly laughing, especially when she attempts to be a Parisian model. Brandon J. Pierce keeps the audience spellbound as the distraught lover of Bernard’s wife who is caught in a web of lies and constantly is on the verge of breaking down and escaping his situation. Equally impressive was the back-and-forth banter and “zingers” between husband Bernard (Brian Robert Burns) and his wife Jacqueline (Kim Morgan Dean).
The director of this zany play is Christopher Williams. Williams directed several NC Rep plays and served for six years as the Associate Artistic Director and Casting Director for NC Rep. His Creative and Design Team included Production Stage Manager Vernon Willet, Production Assistant Jeruel Canda, Set Designer Marty Burnett, Light Designer Matthew Novotny, Costume Designer Elisa Benzoni, Sound Designer Chris Luessman and Props Designer Kevin Williams. The NC Rep on stage set was an impressive living room of a French country house.
“Don’t Dress for Dinner” will be on stage at North Coast Repertory until August 18th. Tickets are available at www.northcoastrep.org or call 858-481-1055. North Coast Repertory’s 43rd Season will begin on September 11th with “A View From the Bridge” directed by NC Rep Artistic director David Ellenstein.
