Published in the Weekly Volcano, April 6, 2017
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| Aya Hashiguchi as Madame Pé and Eric Ray Anderson as General Léon Saint-Pé, photo by Jason Ganwich of Ganwich Media |
Randy Clark, co-founder of Dukesbay Theater and director
of the French farce The Waltz of the
Toreadors, said he saw this play years ago at The Seattle Repertory Theatre
and loved it, and that he has never seen it performed anywhere since. He said
he does not understand why it is not being produced by other companies.
I agree. It is side-splittingly funny, and it is
intelligent and well written.
The show is set in 1910 somewhere in France. Retired
General Léon Saint-Pé (Eric Ray Anderson) no longer loves his invalid wife (Aya
Hashiguchi), whom he suspects of being a hypochondriac. In fact, he seethes
with hatred of her. For 17 years, he has been madly in love with another woman,
Ghislaine (Kathryn Grace Philbrook), with whom he danced only once. She is
equally in love with him. Over those many years, Léon remained true to his wife
(except for some moments he managed to spend off in his garden with the
household help, perhaps). Ghislaine has remained a virgin.
When Ghislaine unexpectedly shows up at Léon’s home, pandemonium
ensues. And she joyfully loses her virginity ― to say how and with whom would
be a spoiler of the worst kind. Other scenes that would constitute spoilers,
were I to tell about them, include many hilariously inept attempts at suicide
by multiple characters.
The
Waltz of the Toreadors is a turn-of-the (last)-century sex
farce that is as funny today as it was when it was first performed 66 years
ago. Although a contemporary version could benefit from a little trimming.
The set designed by Blake York with scenic painting by
Jennifer York is gorgeous. I love the almost exclusively black and white
furnishings and backdrops and white fleur-de-lis pattern on the black floor.
Beyond the terrific script, what makes this comedy shine
is the acting of the two major characters, Anderson and Philbrook. Anderson
portrays the general as so overly excitable that I feared he would have a
stroke, and Philbrook is appropriately ditsy and absurd, not to mention
libidinous underneath an oh-so-proper facade.
Anderson is the only equity actor in the play, and his
resume is golden. He has appeared in such popular television shows as “Northern
Exposure,” “Grimm” and “Twin Peaks,” and on stages throughout Western
Washington — including (I’m quoting from his program bio) every stage in
Seattle. This vast experience is clear in his depiction of General Léon
Saint-Pé.
With subtlety and grace, Joseph Grant creates in Dr.
Bonfant a character who is wise and witty, and who secretly thinks everyone
else is an idiot. Hashiguchi, co-founder of Dukesbay, spends most of the play
either in bed or shouting at her husband from off-stage. She plays Madame
Saint-Pé as nasty and manipulative (no wonder her husband wants to kill her).
The physical affectations of the secretary, Gaston (Tim
Takechi), seemed in the early scenes to be a bit wooden, but as the play moved
through time his demeanor made more sense and Takechi’s character became more
vibrant.
Other actors in the show are Jeffery Weaver as Father
Ambrose, Maria Valenzuela as Madame Dupont-Fredaine, and Jackie Villava-Cua and
Audrey Montague as a pair of sisters who are models of shy decorum until they
become screeching shrews.
There is reality and even sadness beneath the hilarity of
this French farce which, as Clark said, should be produced much more often. I
am glad Dukesbay Theater is doing it.
The Waltz
of the Toreadors, 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, through April 9,
$10-$15, Dukesbay Theater in the Merlino Arts Center, 508 S. Sixth Ave.
#10, Tacoma, WA 98402, http://dukesbaywaltz.brownpapertickets.com
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