Comic candy

Sugar-sweet ‘Stratagem’ is zestfully played, but the fun goes on too long

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Michigan State University’s Departmentof Theatre’s production of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” is a sweet comedy oferrors that reminds one of Brach’s Neapolitan Sundaes candies found inthe bulk candy bins. Those colorful coconut-covered chewy candies lookand taste good at first, but after a while your taste buds have hadenough sugar and just want some meat.

The titular two beaux aredown-on-their-luck gentlemen who have contrived a plan to play masterand servant, traveling about the country and wooing rich maidens. Theplan quickly goes awry as the men stop at in inn full of thieves andcons. Few fall for their charade, and love complicates matters more.Stories ravel and unravel in the complex plot.

The play is pure eye candy. The set,designed by Sarah Pearline, is one of the best ever created for theArena Theatre. Pearline takes full advantage of the small space, usingjust a few versatile set pieces that the characters move in awell-choreographed manner. In this way, little time is wasted in makingscene transitions.

The already attractive cast is wrappedin Eric Franzen’s sumptuous costumes, topped with period wigs, courtesyof Heather Fleming. The only shortcoming in the visual presentation isthe landlord Boniface’s balding cap, which doesn’t quite blend in withactor Steven Mallory’s natural skin tone. This is only a slightdistraction: Mallory’s acting overshadows this minor flaw.

Audiences that have difficultyunderstanding Shakespeare’s romantic comedies will find this play muchmore accessible. Adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig, thisversion of George Farquhar’s 1707 play bridges the gap between theBard’s language and our own.  

Still, the shortcomings of the genrepersist. The biggest is that the plot is overly complicated, withmultiple characters planning multiple machinations, often with unclearmotivation. With the addition of minor characters and subplots thatexist to make social commentary, the play clocks in at over two hours.  

Fortunately, the cast is solid. WesHaskell is a delight as Archer, who is quite the ladies man. He firstwoos Cherry (Andrea Miller), the landlord’s daughter. Their flirtationsare spirited and fun.

Archer has more of a challenge with Kate (CaitlynKnisely), the wife of the drunken country squire Sullen. Stuck in aloveless marriage, Kate falls easily for Archer’s mannered charms.Still, as a true lady she resists his advances while married. Kniselyplays the trapped wife well, lashing out at her mother-in-law andhusband with such dignity and class that they often don’t realize thatshe is insulting them.

Edward O’Ryan turns in another fineperformance as highwayman/preacher Gloss. O’Ryan imbues this man ofdubious character with such complexity that the audience feels for himwhen Cherry rebuffs his advances.

In this season of sex scandals, “TheBeaux’ Stratagem” is a nice option for wiling away a few hours. Whilebordering on cloying, its goofy sweetness assures us that all’s well that ends well.


’The Beaux’ Stratagem’

Michigan State University Theater

Auditorium Arena Theatre

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17; 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20

$13; $10 for students

(800) WHARTON

theatre.msu.edu

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