Lend me a tenor

Cast

Maggie - Kayla Ginop
Max - Chris Horvath
Saunders - Joe Kilpatrick
Tito - Phil Murphy
Maria - Maria McKane
Diana - Christy Anderson
Julia - Denni Don Hunting
Bellhop - Rick Korndorfer

PRODUCTION LIST

Director - Gary Bolton
Assistant Director - Ed Mulcahy
Producer - Jill Anton
Stage Manager - Deb Bowman
Asst Stage Manager - Margaret "Muggs" Mulcahy
Set Design - Michael Kay
Light Design - Brett Nichols
Costumes - Kathy Verstraete
Properties - Kerri Moses
House Manager - Heather Roush
Sound Design - Wizard
Poster Design - Roland Woodring

Set Construction - Jeff Kroeger
Set Construction - Jack Baker, Mike Carney,
Sam Clark, Pat Feak, Al Lien, Chris Wendel,
Joe Rice, Margaret Schaal,
John snyder, Steve Morse
Set Painters - Kat Brown, Andrea Gieger,
Carrie Gordon, Denni Don Hunting, Kasey Kilpatrick,
Terry Lawrence, Kerri Moses
Costume Crew - Jeanine Easterday, Dale George,
Sharon Myers, Susan Warner
Vocal Coach - Tom Stokes, Bonnie Deigh
Hair/Make-up - Andrea Rothney

OTP leaves them laughing

by Nancy Sundstrom
Special to the Record-Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY -- In the spring, Old Town Playhouse's fancy turns to comedy to close out their season, and this year, they made a wise choice with Ken Ludwig's hilarious production, the 1989 Tony Award-winning farce, "Lend Me a Tenor."
Director Gary Bolton has emerged as one of OTP's most skilled comedic directors, as evidenced by his previous work with another Ludwig piece, "Moon Over Buffalo," and Jeff Daniels' "Escanaba in da Moonlight." "Lend Me a Tenor" is a broad, madcap comedy.
Bolton and his capable cast are in complete command of a riotous piece of material that had the audience laughing continuously, and earned a well-deserved standing ovation.
There is less plot than business in this show, something that ultimately proves to be highly serviceable in the pandemonium that ensues. Tito Morelli (Phil Murphy), "the world's greatest tenor," has arrived with his wife Maria (Maria McKane), in Cleveland to appear in Verdi's "Otello." Notoriously more interested in wine and women than song, opera company manager Max (Chris Horvath) has been assigned by his boss, Saunders (Joe Kilpatrick) to keep Tito away from his beloved vices, and Saunders' adoring daughter Maggie (kayla Ginop), whom Max would do anything to woo.
Arts patron Julia (Denni Don Hunting), a bellhop (Rick Korndorfer), and prima donna Diana (Christy Anderson) are also on a mission to encounter Tito in his hotel room. Faster than they can show up and be ushered out of any of the six doors on the set, complications arise, leading Max and Saunders to believe their tenor has expired hours before he can take the stage. He isn't dead, of course, but the situation leads to two identically clad Otellos to be mistaken for each other, despite their disparate physical differences, a factor partially explained by the script. A near drug overdose, arrest and seduction all follow, which is not anywhere as sordid as it may sound, wreaking general confusion and havoc, all of which means hearty laughs for the audience.
There isn't a weak performance in the show, with most members of the eight-person cast keeping fairly tight control over the frantic activity on stage. Bolton and company understand that this is a play that succeeds with split-second slapstick, not subtlety, and ably rise to the challenge.
Standout portrayals come from Murphy, a gifted comic actor usually seen in more traditional lead roles in musicals such as "1776" and "Fiddler on the Roof", McKane as his long-suffering, but not silent, wife; Horvath, who most recently was seen in "Proof"; and Kilpatrick, memorable in last fall's "Misery" in OTP's Studio Theatre.
It's notable, and perhaps a bit ironic, that their work is so successful here, because this quartet, comes with some serious dramatic credits.
Recognizing these performances in also not meant to slight the other players, each of whom embraces their roles with gusto in a show that requires complete team effort.
That sense of ensemble is also reflected in "Tenor's" outstanding production values, though special note goes to the gorgeous art deco set by Michael Kay; Brett Nichols' lighting, and Kathy Verstraete's exceptional costume work, which is beautifully complemented by Andrea Rothney's make-up and hair design.
For ticket information and reservations, call 947-23443, or visit the OTP Website at www.oldtownplayhouse.com.

Farce opens next week on theater's mainstage
Record-Eagle by Tom Carr
"There's a lot of door slamming and mass confusion." Gary Bolton, Director Old Town Playhouse's season is not over until "Lend Me a Tenor" zings.
The Playhouse will cap off its season of past Tony winners with the fast-paced comedy by Ken Ludwig. Actor Philip Bosco and director Jerry Zaks won Tony Awards for the play in 1989.
The story involves Tito Morelli, an Italian tenor, making his American debut in the Cleveland Opera Company production of "Otello." ("Otello" is the Verdi opera based on Shakespeare's "Othello.")
Morelli, played by Phil Murphy, threatens the success of the fictional production with his fondness for wine and women. When his wife finds an autograph seeker in his closet, she leaves, starting a chain reaction of confusion, plot twists and mistaken identities.
The six doors on the set are kept busy with the rapid comings and goings of quirky characters, said director Gary Bolton.
"There's a lot of door slamming and mass confusion everywhere," he said. Bolton has been impressed with his cast of eight.
"They've dedicated themselves to the tradition of farce and they're working extremely hard," he said.
While Murphy plays the title character, there is no main character, Bolton said. "It's an ensemble comedy," he said.
Rounding out the cast are Kayla Ginop, Chris Horvath, Joe Kilpatrick, Maria McKane, Christy Anderson, Denni Don Hunting and Rick Korndorfer.
While Bolton has acted in different types of productions here, he's so far directed all comedies. His first was "Moon Over Buffalo," also written by Ludwig. He also directed Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" in the Playhouse's studio theater.
He likes Ludwig comedies because they're farces rather than straight comedies.
"A farce is where the characters are caricatures without apology," he said.
"Actors are called on more for gymnastics and split-second timing rather than nuances of expression."
Opening night is Friday, May 20. Following that, evening performances will be at 8 p.m. May 21, 26, 27 and 28 and June 2, 3, and 4. Sunday marinees are at 3 p.m. on May 22 and 29.
Tickets are $16 and are available at the Playhouse on Eighth Street, by calling 947-2243 or at www.oldtownplayhouse.com.

Audition Notice: Tenor is a fast paced, door slamming, all out farce. Auditions will consist of reading selected scenes from the script and for some, a demonstration of your worst Italian accent. Please audition, a fun time is guaranteed for all !

Performance dates are May 20, 21, 22(matinee) 26, 27, 28, 29(matinee) and June 2, 3 and 4.

Laughter will fill the house when OTP presents this hilarious production by the modern comedy master, Ken Ludwig. This madcap comedy revolves around the debut of an Italian tenor with the Cleveland Opera Company. In order to keep the new star fresh and ready for his performance, he is "baby-sat" by young assistant Max, primarily to keep him from his two biggest weaknesses, wine and women. Get ready for a chain reaction of hilarious confusion, plot twists and impersonation. Ludwig is the same author who penned Moon Over Buffalo , a huge hit at OTP a few years ago.

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