Dreamweavers’ Theatre in Napa is serving up Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party. Neil Simon fans will find many one-liners to chuckle over, but the play is a departure from some of his more inane comedy writings. Make your reservations now as this dinner party will only play through 20 May. On the menu at this posh French restaurant’s private dining room is an array of flavors from complex to spicy, accompanied by just enough whine to keep the comedy fresh.
Louise Anderson directs this dining room ‘dramedy’ and manages to keep the audience waiting to see what each course will bring and when the next surprising tidbit of information will drop. She has assembled a very competent and talented cast to portray the six characters, five of who arrive with no clue as to why they are there. As the mystery unfolds, they discover that they all have connections in one way or another, most often by virtue of a shared divorce lawyer and their ex-spouses.
The three men played by Arthur Goulart (Claude), Don Laughridge (Albert), and Robert Dougherty (Andre) display few shared values and their diversity evokes witty and biting dialogue as they snipe at each other, and vie for the attention of the fair sex. Two ladies arrive to further complicate the already disgruntled and puzzled men. They are Gail Silverman (Marietta) and Patte Quinn (Yvonne). It is with only mild surprise that the audience discovers each woman has a history with at least one of the three men.
The arrival of Taylor Bartolucci (Gabrielle), however, marks the first profound shift in the heretofore fairly ordinary and comfortable topics discussed by the cast. Bartolucci, dressed in a sexy black gown, commands the attention of everyone, including the audience. But it isn’t the gorgeous figure she presents that draws the eye. There is a visible elevation of energy when she is present, and she displays a range and depth of character that is somewhat lacking in the rest of the cast.
As the couples reveal personal information both embarrassing and touching, some of the questions begin to be answered. Especially enjoyable is the interaction between the divorced couple, Yvonne and Albert. Their one-sided dialogue when one is not speaking to the other is very funny. For touching moments it would be hard to top Mariette’s answer to the question, “Name one good thing about your marriage?”
The most serious and challenging bits, however, are found in the characters of Andre and Gabrielle. Kudos to Bartolucci who fully embraces the role of the hard-edged, confrontational femme fatale with such success that the audience roots for her in spite of her shocking behavior. Dougherty, on the other hand, seems uncomfortable in his role as a cad, and is no match for the wanton and lusty behavior exhibited by Bartolucci.
After the superb set for Dreamweavers’ last production (Laura in black and white) it appears that this theatre troupe is raising the bar for community theatre. The set design by Susan Gromet is stellar. The set transports the audience to the private dining room in Paris, and it is a treat for the eye, and a varied playing space for the cast.
The Dinner Party will satisfy those who like a little whine with their meal. Dreamweavers dishes up a variety of flavors and you are certain to find something that suits your fancy. The Dinner Party plays through 20 May. Contact 707-255-LIVE or see their website (www.dreamweaverstheatre.org) for reservations.
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment