Date: Fri 31-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLK

Illustration: C

Location: A8

Quick Words:

Yalep-Rep-Triumph-theatre

Full Text:

(rev "Triumph Of Love" @Yale Rep, 1/31/97)

Theatre Review-

A Triumphant Love Configuration

(with photo)

By June April

NEW HAVEN - Triumph of Love is Connecticut's answer to the very successful

Broadway musical, Once Upon a Mattress . It is a love triangle; no, actually a

love parallelogram!

Yale Repertory Theatre's current production - on the New Haven stage until

February 8 - is a delightful romp, with layers of meaning, unexpected turns,

and inventive original musical numbers. It is theatre for all ages.

Based on a play by 18th Century wit and man of letters Pierre de Carlet

Chamblain de Marivaux, Mattress is in the tradition of the great Moliere and

served as a commentary on his time. It deals with the universal issues

bound-up with love.

Elements are drawn from vaudeville, and blended with the flavor of French

farce. There are also a couple of one-line zingers tossed in from the popular

book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. And one of the characters, a

gardener answering to Dimas, did somehow recall Bertold Brecth's Waiting for

Godot.

Translating and adapting Marivaux's comedic classic, the talented dramaturg

James Maruder joined forces with composer Jeffrey Stock and award-winning

lyricist Susan Birkenhead to create an upbeat musical about the trials and

process of passion.

The music is original and quite delightful, albeit none of the songs can be

readily hummed as one might from South Pacific or Oklahoma. The words,

especially in two songs - "Three Great Minds" and "Henchmen are Forgotten" -

could be aptly applied to contemporary politics.

The sets are a perfect reflection of the play. Crenelated hedges, triangular

trees and some wonderful verdant ramps that open to gardens combine with

arched garden gates. Kudos to the magical and imaginative creations of set

designer Heidi Landesman.

The five musicians - Tracy Stark on keyboard, Tim Moran on woodwinds, Anita

Miller playing the horn, Andy Jones on percussion, with Bradley Vieth doubling

as conductor and second keyboard - projected a great and big sound. A sound

nicely rounded and easy to listen to.

Choreographer Doug Varone must feel proud of his clever routines. They reflect

the characters and punctuate the action of the play. A definite plus to this

production.

Deserved recognition for fine costuming by Catherine Zuber was enhanced by the

lighting skills of Brian MacDevitt.

The seven cast members were perfect for each part. As the elegant and

manipulative Princess Leonide, Susan Egan is lovely and sensitive. Her

maid-servant, Corine, immediately established a link with the audience. Denny

Dillon's Corine is lusty, lighthearted, and like Wodehouses' Jeeves, helps get

her mistress out of some challenging predicaments.

Tall, patrician and classically good-looking, Christopher Sieber plays the

throb, of Princess Leonides' heart, Agis.

The plot: Princess sees prince in a secluded garden, and immediately falls

deeply in love with him. With the help of her servant, princess balloons to

where he lives. Trashing the balloon, and disguised as a man, the princess

seeks to woo her love. Shades of Romeo and Juliet , alas, her parents murdered

his parents, and the people who saved the baby prince have brought him up to

despise the princess and to be an intellect, sans the passions of the heart.

Playing the mentor/philosopher Hermocrates, actor Robert LuPone is aloof and

arrogant, as is his "old maid sister" Hesione. They do not want their world

invaded by love or outsiders. The two servants to Hermocrates, Harlequin,

flawlessly played by Kenny Raskin, joins forces with Corine and the grumbling

gardener Dimas, portrayed by Daniel Marcus.

It all does work out in the end, but not without pain, lessons and laughter.

The play is a classic, headed to Broadway (if all goes well). Seeing it on or

before February 8 is certainly worth the time and money.

(Contact the Yale Rep box office for schedule and ticket details, 432-1234.)