Date: Fri 08-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Griswold-Allen-April-theatre

Full Text:

THEATRE REVIEW: Allen & Square One Produce What Is Expected: Laughs

By June April

STRATFORD - Fulfilling numerous roles is typical for most women, but actress

Leigh Griswold goes beyond the norm. In Stratford Square One's current

production Play It Again, Sam , the beautiful petite blonde plays multiple

"Dream Women." That's after teaching her special education classes in Oxford,

being a Mom to her baby, Scott, and loving wife to her husband, William, and

seeing that everything is where it ought to be in their Newtown home.

Playing through Sunday, May 16, the funny spoof, with Ms Griswold in a leading

role, is for Bogart/ Casablanca fans. One of Woody Allen's earliest plays,

Play It Again, Sam had a successful Broadway run, and was later made into a

wildly heralded movie. Director Tom Holehan has once again brought a community

theatre production to audiences that leaves them laughing at the antics of its

actors.

The three male actors were appropriately selected, especially for their

physical type. Scott Brill is reminiscent of the creative Woody Allen. In the

play, Mr Allen (whose real name is Allen Stewart Konigsberg) has dubbed the

hero one Allen Felix.

Fantasy and reality are woven together through the skills of lighting designer

Jim Faggella. The flow between imagination and real life is very akin to that

delightful 1947 movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty , which starred Danny

Kaye.

Allen Felix's hero, Humphrey Bogart, complete with trench coat and hat, is

believably played by Pat Leo. Even his speech has the echoes of Bogie's

trademark rhythmic lisp. The business-crazed buddy, Dick Christie, is

portrayed by Marc Moritz, whose sense of timing is definitely thumbs up.

Making her acting debut, Kelly Hadous-Ferry is a lady to keep an eye on. The

stunning blonde speaks well, no matter how quickly she tosses out her lines;

truly a sign of fine training.

Mary Ellen Maloney as Linda Christie, Allen Felix's confidante and life-line,

comes across as compassionate and lively. It's clear from watching these

actors that they enjoy what they're doing on stage, and who they are doing it

with (that's poor English, but it's an accurate observation).

The cooperative efforts of Barbara and Peter Cairney, Faith McDevitt and Tom

Vinci produced a delightful set that reflects the story as well as the nature

of Allen Felix.

Act Two is stronger than Act One, which is more often than not the reality of

most plays. The laughs come thicker and faster.

Just as Leigh Griswold always knew she was going to be an actress, so an

audience knows Woody Allen always comes up with a poignantly funny statement

about people and life.

(Tickets are $14, with a slightly lower rate for senior citizens and students.

For tickets, telephone the box office at 375-8778. Square One is at 2422 Main

Street in Stratford, near I-95, Exit 32.)