Theater Notes: ‘Lend Me A Tenor,’ a song to sing
Are you up for a whacky, zany and delicious farce complete with operatic music and one of the finest casts ever assembled on this island? That’s what “Lend Me A Tenor,” now on the boards at BIG ARTS Strauss Theater, will give you and your friends.
You walk in and the stage is gorgeous. A fancy hotel suite with enough doors to hide anyone and everyone. Perfect for farce, and do those doors get used. Ken Ludwig has come up with what really is a laugh a minute wonder.
But what a great team he has been given to play for all of us. Hats off to the director, Ann Neiman, who really knows what she’s doing. She got superb performances from everyone in the cast. But, also from technical director/scenic and lighting designer, the venerable Adam Trummel. I’m told Erin Peter helped build and paint the set. And the costumes from Sami Doherty contributed to laughs all through the evening. A quick nod to that excellent sound engineer Jorge Coral and to sound designer Christopher Bright. That’s the team that did it.
The plot is about a world famous Tenor, Tito Morelli, who comes to Cleveland Grand Opera for a one night performance of Otello, a major fundraising event. He arrives late after a fight with his volatile wife Maria. Tension is building as they meet and have to deal with the Evening’s Impresario, played by Rob Summers, who we all enjoyed as Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.” His hot blooded niece, delightfully played by Katie Pankow, another sweet face from “A Christmas Carol,” anchors a lot of the laughs in this impending disaster. All you need to know is that Tito downs a double dose of tranquilizers, and ends up unable to perform.
What follows are the problems they have to solve to get by. Belly laughs and slammed doors and doubled Otellos singing made the opening night audience roar. Kudos to Nancy Antonio, one of my favorites, playing Julia, the boss at the opera. Megan Orlowski as Diana, Otello’s soprano, Sam Rotella playing Maria to the hilt, and for the jolly bell-boy, Tommy Short.
Tito Merelli, is Joel Stigliano, and oh, does he sing. But clearly, accolades go to Christopher Russell, who plays Max, and yes, he is the tenor they have to borrow.
Titto and Max hit it off, and lend gusto in magical ways that add to the hilarity. One of the funniest scenes evolves when both of them are in Otello costumes, as doors slam and one or the other hides, and both get seduced by two women in different rooms. Hey, this is a farce.
The curtain closing was almost worth the price of a ticket itself. Never have I seen a more rollicking and joyous delight from a cast who must have just loved what they had given us, followed by the standing ovation. Come see for yourself.
Here is your chance to support live theater on this island. You will not be disappointed. If they could win over this anti-farce critic, they will surely delight you as well. I’m so glad I went, and I urge you to go. Get out and bring some friends, to have a marvelous evening with one of the very best productions I have ever seen of this old chestnut. “Lend Me A Tenor.”
“Lend Me A Tenor” plays through Feb. 10, at BIG ARTS Strauss Theater, 2200 Periwinkle Way. Tickets are available online at bigarts.org or call (239) 472-6862 where everyone’s friend, Janet Scully, will help you get the best seats. Congratulations, BIG ARTS Strauss Theater and Bobby Logue, artistic director.