James Newcomb, Taubert Nadalini and Barbara E. Robertson (Photo by Jason Niedle)
Reviewed by Dana Martin
North Coast Rep and Laguna Playhouse
Thru November 5th
RECOMMENDED
The Angel Next Door is a delightfully zany screwball comedy about theater people being theater people. This world premiere transfer production from North Coast Rep lands with a bang at Laguna Playhouse.
Newport, Rhode Island, 1948. Painfully shy, lovesick author Oliver Adams (Taubert Nadalini) has just finished his latest novel — a love story inspired by his deep, passionate love for Broadway actress and singer, Margot Bell (Elinor Gunn). Husband-and-wife playwriting team Charlotte Sanders (Barbara E. Robertson) and Arthur Sanders (James Newcomb) have been commissioned to adapt Oliver’s novel into a play starring the subject of Oliver’s affection, Margot. Everyone, including Margot, has arrived for a stay at an extravagant mansion where Margot is set to perform. Trouble is, Margot is entangled in an affair with her singing co-star, the delightfully daft Victor Pratt (Thomas Edward Daugherty).
Margot checks in to the room next door and, unbeknownst to her, the literary trio overhears her tryst, sending Oliver off the deep end. It turns out Oliver’s romance with Margot is pure fantasy. They met once and his imagination wild, resulting in his literary opus. He threatens to destroy his manuscript and himself. Charlotte goes to great length to cover Margot’s innocent transgression while Arthur runs interference on Oliver. After much silliness, mayhem, a play-within-a-play and hilarious deadpan delivery from housekeeper Olga Molnar (Erin Noel Grennan), Oliver and Margot finally align in the play’s 11th hour.
Playwright Paul Slade Smith nails the qualities of a classic comedy; this story is purely entertainment. The banter is rapid-fire and the scenes are at breakneck speed, which is fine for a farce — and this one delivers in spades. Director David Ellenstein’s slick, solid production keeps the action moving and the characters fully engaged.
The physical embodiment of the characters, the specificity of relationships and the commitment to comic timing is ever-present in this production. The pace never drops. Erin Noel Grennan’s stern and generically Eastern European housekeeper Olga Molnar has all the funniest lines and entrances, naturally. Elinor Gunn’s Margot Bell is the epitome of a well-meaning, doe-eyed ingenue. Thomas Edward Daugherty’s Victor Pratt is as dashing as he is dopey. Taubert Nadalini’s lovesick Oliver is wonderfully pathetic. Barbara E. Robertson’s solid performance as Charlotte Sanders anchors the play, as does an equally successful performance by James Newcomb as Arthur Sanders. Newcomb and Robertson are well-suited scene partners; the text and banter fly. It’s great fun to watch them together.
A well-appointed set design by Marty Burnett is complimented by Matthew Novotny’s subtle lighting. Elisa Benzoni’s handsome costumes couple nicely with Peter Herman’s hair and wig design. Sound design by Ian Scot get a bit lost in the shuffle.
Adapted from the century-old Hungarian play, The Play at the Castle by Ferenc Molnar, The Angel Next Door is a love letter to theater people of which Arthur and Charlotte are the epitome: they see life as a play where the audience is perpetually out there in the dark, just waiting for their brilliance.
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive, Laguna Beach. Wed.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.; Thurs. 10/26, 2 p.m.; 10/31, 7:30 p.m.; thru November 5th; https://LagunaPlayhouse.com or (949)- 497- 2787. Running time: 2 hours with one intermission.
