In comedy, timing is everything. Of course, it also helps to have a brilliantly written script, crisp, properly-paced direction and a cast totally into their roles. PowPAC's production of Alan Ayckbourn's How the Other Half Loves meets all of this criteria. The script calls for the living areas of two families with action in both areas at the same time. Both areas occupy the same space -- the breadth and depth of PowPAC's stage. James Caputo's set accomplishes absolute separation of living spaces, as realized by Rosemary King's excellent crafting of the walls. Further delineation is accomplished by different furniture styles and wall decorations. Prop Mistress Enid Munk adds to this with her authentic British props.
Director James Caputo is as much a traffic cop as a very good director. Caputo develops effective psychological space between the families, even when the actors are only a few feet apart.
Frank and Fiona Foster (Grant Gelvin and Connie Terwilliger) are upper crust. The other two men work for him. Gelvin plays a delightful bumbler with limited short term memory and zero mechanical aptitude. (One wonders how he made it to management level.) Terwilliger's Fiona is chic, totally in control of her household, and, unlike Frank, knows where everything is. Terwilliger and Gelvin give outstanding performances. Teresa and Bob Phillips (Lynne Goodman and Jonathan Sachs) are at a lower economic level, plus Bob has a wee indiscretion. It seems that coming home a three AM, with an excuse that doesn't hold up, gives Teresa anxiety. Goodman is a delight in a love-hate relationship. Sachs exudes just enough arrogance to make one wonder why Teresa married Bob. We find out.
The visitors to both families are Mary and William Detwiller (Julie Anderson and David Dartt). Mary is an introverted mouse, afraid of anything that reeks of power and wealth. Watching Anderson transition from Ms. Mouse to a rather assertive woman is truly delightful. Dartt's William ranges from mealy-mouthed sycophant to aggressive defender of his family.
Each role is well developed by the cast, whose British accents convince without being unintelligible. Terwilliger and Gelvin are properly refined, while the others tend towards the common. Costumer LaBeth Thompson created and gathers a wardrobe that adds to each character. The Foster's table, which is center stage parallel to the audience, is elegantly set with fine crystal and china. The Phillips table, which crosses the Foster's table, is adorned with plastic and aluminum ware. Simply by swiveling in their chairs, the Detwiller's move from one dinner party to the other. It works, convincingly and totally hilariously. Anderson's handling of a martini glass will bring tears to your eyes and your sides aching.
Sound designer Lou Alliano's theme and background music amusingly set the scene. Jim Millard's lighting is straight-forward. Jerry Hughs' custom-built furniture is unique.
How the Other Half Loves is an extremely funny farce. Ayckbourn's dialogue is a joy to hear, as performed by the talented cast. (One quibble: when the script calls for a downpour of rain, one expects that as the guests enter, their coats will be wet. And since I'm being picky, the cast should sometimes hold more for the laughter; we miss a few apparently funny lines.) Need a night of laughter, don't miss this production at PowPAC.
