Unnecessary Farce

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Unnecessary Farce

Playwrights – Paul Slade Smith

Production Company/Theatre space – Stage West

Length – 2 Acts (2 hours 5 minutes one intermission.)

Genre/s – Farce

Premise – Two cops set up a sting operation in an adjoining hotel room in order to catch the mayor in a fraud case, but the case gets more complicated with the addition of one security guard, two mobsters, and eight doors.

Why this play? Why now? – Farce and dinner - the perfect combination.

Curiosities – This play was done at Stage West in 2014 should be programmed in rotation every 12 years. Will it be done again in 2038?

Notable Moment – A certain kilt wearing entrance and a very funny send up of bagpipe playing sans pipes.

Notable writing – This award-winning script has had just under 400 productions worldwide and has been translated into multiple languages. Just when it seemed as if farce had fizzled along with spandex and pop from the 80’s along comes Slade Smith to bring the genre into the next century. As he did with Stage West’s other hit farce The Outsider this script is contemporary (though 20 years old) but less political, which is needed right now.

Notable performances – While the cast ranges in experience from recent graduate to Broadway star, the ensemble is incredibly balanced. Andrew McDonald-Smith formerly having been in The Play That Goes Wrong and in the same vein Peter Pan Goes Wrong does everything right in his role as the smitten cop. His sidekick, played by Sarah Irwin, is comedy solid as she was in Rosebud Theatre’s production of Hurry Hard last season along with award-winning scene-stealing Matthew Mooney. Jenny McKillop and Mike Tan do lovely work as do the two old pros Elizabeth Stepkiwski Tarhan and Patrick Brown (whose talents are bigger than the size of their roles).

Notable design/Production – Set Designer Ian Martens gives us a serviceable solid farce set (without the usual wobbly walls). Costume Designer Raili Boe’s Scottish get up hit the mark in contrast to some of the prerequisite undergarments.

Notable direction – Not normally known as a farce director, Jan Alexandre Smith masterfully juggles the split set which is notoriously tricky for split focus. She keeps things broad without being over the top and the door timings are perfect.

One reason to see this show –– A very necessary farce. (Plus, great food and service.) Go.