Patio Playhouse's current production, T. S. Eliot's Tony-winning play, The Cocktail Party, staged by Richard Gant, opens closes with a cocktail party. In between, the play ponderously explores relationships, morality, and bad cooking. Why is the hostess missing? What is her husband's relationship with one of the guests? Who is the stranger at the party? Who is deceiving whom?
Director Gant's set quite ingeniously features a corner fireplace, rotated to become the psychologist's office. His lighting nicely defines and isolates the office area from the rest of the set. Elegant antique furniture gives the drawing room set an refined elegance. Arlene Darden and Mary Nelson's selection of costumes add to the elegance of the cocktail party -- the women in fine gowns, the men in tuxedos. With classical music in the background, throughout the play there's a feeling of well-bred people, properly elegant at all times.
Director Gant and stage manager Teresa Anderson have walk-on parts, both necessary to the plot, though each has only a few lines. Jim Clevenger, as Edward Chamberlyne, the focal point of the plot, is on stage almost the entire play, and many of his speeches seem rushed.
Bruce Blackwell, playing Sir Henry Harcourt Reilly, came to the cast a week before opening. While still on book, his characterization and performance prove excellent. Most convincing of the cast is Kelli Harless as Celia Coplestone. Whether as a flirtatious woman or disturbed and confused, she's always in command of her character. Also with contrasting moods is Lavinia, Edward's wife, played equally convincingly by Peggy Schneider. Mary Nelson as Julia, Chris Hastings as Peter, and David Farlow as Alexander round out the cast.
The Cocktail Party plays almost two and a half hours. Tony aside, one must assume T. S. Eliot loved his phrasing more than good theatrical pacing. Some speeches are interminable, requiring the actors to maintain the audience's interest. A very difficult task.
Opened:
April 5, 2002
Ended:
April 28, 2002
Country:
USA
State:
California
City:
Escondido
Company/Producers:
Patio Playhouse
Theater Type:
Community
Theater:
Patio Playhouse
Theater Address:
201 East Grand
Phone:
(760) 746-6669
Running Time:
2 hrs, 45 min
Genre:
Comedy-Drama
Director:
Richard Gant
Review:
Cast:
Jim Clevenger, Peggy Schneider, Kelli Harless, Mary Nelson, Chris Hastings, Mary Nelson, David Farlow
Critic:
Robert Hitchcox
Date Reviewed:
April 2002
