Comedy

April 30, 2016

Is He Dead? is a play written by Mark Twain and adapted by David Ives. It is also the last high school play I will see as a high schooler, and today was the last showing of this play. I had heard Nikki rehearsing her lines in Sundell's office for the past 2 months, but it still didn't make it any more real until the lights dimmed and I adjusted to my seating location (sitting facing stage left, a view I had never experienced before, having sat facing both center and stage right in the studio theatre for all other theatre productions that I have seen).

Firstly, I have to backtrack and admit that the affected French accent reminding audience members to silence their phones was hilarious. It set the tone for the rest of the play. The beginning was the most comedic, but it was important because it set the stage for the rest of the play. Adam Lawdan as Agamemnon Buckner (Chicago) was perfect as the brain behind the plan, and even his repeated phrase "well, the worst is yet to come." Ryan Gold as Hans Von Bismark (Dutchy) had an absolutely golden performance. He was the bouncing character with the recurring smelly cheese scenes, the only one left standing as all the other characters gagged and fell to the floor dramatically. His cheerful manner especially during these moments contrasted the reactions of all the other present actors, making the scene all the more hilarious. The most memorable moment for me was when Gold takes Lawdan's repeated phrase and after introducing the smelly cheese, pulls out a sausage and says "but the wurst is yet to come." 

Noah Hewett as Phelim O'Shaughnessy was the perfect Irish imitator. One of the many noteworthy scenes was when he presents his portrait of the dachshund, distorted so that the body is unnaturally long and has to curl all around the canvas in a rectangular spiral. Clearly it's not a realistic portrait. As the other members hopelessly try to tell him in the nicest terms possible that it's not necessarily the Mona Lisa of paintings, he exclaims "are we talking about dogs or art?" 

Dylan Cohen and Maggie Collins were the epitomes of suffocating maternal figures. Their dramatic exclamations and sighs created this borderline-maudlin performance that was perfect. Their presence was accompanied by a cloud of dramatics that smothered the stage and as they left, their absence was tangible in the way that it was almost easier to breathe. Truly, their ability to put on an impeccable performance filled with enough drama to choke the audience is a skill that very few actors and actresses have. 

Tom played the role of an old man (Papa Leroux) exceedingly well. The cane and his grey hair (dyed of course) helped, but his performance was what really made his character come to life. The plodding character he brought to life, and Nikki (Marie Leroux, daughter of Papa Leroux) doted on Tom so well that his invalid state was easily apparent. Not to mention, the scene where the hot water cushion became a whoopie cushion complete with farts both startled me, since the farting noise came from directly behind me, but it was also effective because it caused the whole audience to burst out laughing. Nikki presented beautifully as a naive daughter who errs on the side of being a little too kind and gentle. Nikki brought her own innocence and kindness into her acting and it was a joy to watch, because just as I saw Sydney's true personality woven into Sydney's performance during One Acts, I was able to see Nikki's gentleness in her performance as Marie. 

Cassidy Raasch was both the other daughter of Leroux (Cecile) and Cecile masquerading as a police officer. There was never a moment when she dropped out of her character as an overprotective girlfriend and her jealousy was so palpable. The quirks in her performance, as here and there she would smirk or grin from the background in response to what was occurring in the foreground, as well as her soliloquies, made her character sparkle to life, a character both brilliantly beautiful and intelligent, but also a character who both feigns proper coldness but secretly wants to be loved.

Morgan McDonough was the perfect villain as Bastien André. Cheerful and evil at the same time, his energetic nature was evident in the fluidity in which he, both as the actor and the actual villain, changed demeanor to get what he wants. His reactions as "Daisy Tillou" presented herself as a fake and superficial woman comprised of interchangeable parts (the ploy to disgust André enough to dissuade him from wanting to marry "Daisy Tillou") was hilarious and successfully elicited laughs from the audience.

Emily Fagel and Anusha Das as an art patroness and a journalist (respectively) and later as rulers of European countries, brought more laughter to the stage. Emily's performances have always been amusing in her matter-of-fact performances. She's played characters where the irony is embedded into the lines she enunciates with frankness. It was no different in this play as she played a patroness who elucidates all the actors to the somber truth that artists are worth more when they are dead than when they are alive. Her directness provides the compass for any production she is in, and in this play, it was no different. Anusha's accent solidified her performance as a European ruler as hilarious. Her dramatics are nothing short of hilarious and exaggerated, and as the ruler who opens up the funeral casket and unveils the cheese stench, her reaction made the cheese stench almost exist and caused the audience to burst into laughter.

Sam Lemme as Charlie the butler was hilarious. His performance was so expressive and the increasing irritation was evident. Lemme handled the issue with the stage door not opening (not scripted) in character, that if I wasn't paying attention, I wouldn't have known that that wasn't supposed to have happened.

The title is called "Is He Dead?" so it would be remiss of me to not mention Cole Otto, who played Jean-François Millet, who then adopts the alter-ego Widow Tillou, also known as Daisy Tillou. Cole played the moody Millet perfectly in all of Millet's dark, brooding demeanor, and his voice cracks and affected gestures sent the audience into peals of laughter during his time as Widow Tillou. It was a demanding role, there being very little scenes where Cole wasn't onstage, but he delivered a perfect performance that made me squirm as I felt his awkwardness, but also laugh as he exaggerated Millet's performance as a widow who is not exactly sound in the mind.

Massive props also to all the crew, whether it's lighting or sound or stage (or any others that I am unaware of). The combined effort of all these people (it still blows my mind how they managed to get canvas replications of all these legitimate paintings) created a show that was professional and comedic. It was sad watching this production, knowing it would be the last show I would watch as a high schooler, but I was blown away by the talent. Graduating seniors Tom, Emily, Anusha, Morgan, Maggie, Cole, all delivered a stunning performance and their talent will be missed, but this performance also reassured me because I witnessed incredible talent from all the sophomores and juniors in this play.

I have never laughed so much or so hard at either a play or a musical until this one and I although I am sad to graduate because then I won't be able to watch more productions and see these actors mature and hone their talents, I am also satisfied to graduate with this production as the last one because it definitely was a memorable play worth every line, gesture, and laugh.

Applause to VHHS Backlight Theatre for yet another spectacular show. I may have said it before, but I'll say it again: my one regret is not having watched every performance during these past 4 years of my high school career.