Three-person cast tackles meaty, multi-character roles in LCC’s ‘Layers’

Lansing Community College’s presentational, fourth-wall-breaking, metatheatrical production of “Layers, or ‘The Casserole Play,’” by Scott C. Sickles, is a whole lot of show for the 90-minute runtime. 

Described by the author as a “docupageant,” the script jumps from style to style within scenes, follows at least three separate plot lines and is prone to absurd product placements and long digressions of supporting facts and background information. But the main narrative emerges over a dispute in the historical record over who is responsible for the creation of the casserole: Was it the opportunistic Pyrex corporation, or perhaps the quaint and inherently loveable Elmire Jolicoeur (Betz Lund), a Civil War-era French-Canadian immigrant?

A farcical and satirical journey ensues as the claim is variously proven and disproven and quite thoroughly investigated by a modern journalist believably portrayed by Savanna Adams. 

Lund is a talented and experienced anchor for this production, providing the heart and soul of the evening. She can really pull on an audience’s heartstrings when the time is right. 

Rounding out the cast is Jay (Josh) Thompson-Linton, who plays 27 different parts in total, including Jolicoeur’s husband and the Pyrex man. Thompson-Linton provides much of the comedic energy and momentum of the show with broad choices, good command of character and an infectious sense of fun.

Quick character shifts and requisite costume changes are the order of the night as the actors have only seconds to switch from role to role, often with assistance from only a hat and possibly a simple prop. There are plenty of changes to be made, with Lund playing the lead and three other parts and Adams adding another 13 separate roles. Yes, some of the roles are very brief cameos, but that’s still a lot of work for any performer. 

Then there are the high energy demands and the fact that all three actors are on stage throughout most of the evening. This show, though playful and lighthearted in tone, is also very physically demanding of its actors. Verbal dexterity and clarity are a must for plays like this, as well as the ability to quickly assume and change dialects. Each actor is required to turn on a dime, perform long monologues, enact lightning-fast scene changes and help the other actors along by promptly supplying verbal cues. It would be easy to lose energy as one’s stamina wears down, but these three young actors do a very good job keeping their characters differentiated, clear and effective while delivering torrents of often repetitive expository material. 

Lansing Community College has a knack for finding plays that give its students the most stage time possible, and even those that might be trying to do a little too much at once provide valuable educational opportunities for the burgeoning actors. Lund, Adams and Thompson-Linton are sure to benefit from taking part in this show.