Two one-act comedies — “The White Liars” and “Black Comedy” by renowned British playwright Sir Peter Shaffer — are drawing chuckles, guffaws and a few groans at CNY Playhouse this month.
Shaffer penned these often silly studies of misdirection and misrepresentation in the mid-1960s well before he became famous for “Equus” and the notably brighter “Amadeus.”
‘White Liars’
With the script’s careful unfolding of its delicious tale of deceit, “The White Liars” hints at the playwright’s future masterworks. One of Syracuse’s most experienced comic actresses, Natalie Wilson, shines and sparkles as Baroness Lemberg, a down-on-her-luck fortune-teller living in a decrepit seaside resort where she welcomes and the two young men — Tom (played by Isaiah Vergara) a rock’n’roll singer, and Frank, his business manager (played by Phil Brady) — who consult her.
Wilson has appeared in more than two dozen improvisational comedies staged locally by the ACME Mystery Co., and she knows how to effectively employ the double-take, the quick quip and the slow burn. Her excellent Slavic accent gave her character an added depth and her flashing eyes and smile punctuated Wilson’s most humorous lines.
Director Christopher Best did a great job by casting Natalie Wilson as the kooky clairvoyant.
‘Black Comedy’
In “Black Comedy,” indefatigable actor Dan Rowlands does all the heavy lifting, both literally and figuratively. Rowlands bounces around the stage like a pinball, knocking over chairs, falling down stairs, walking into a closed door. Seriously, by the time this show’s run comes to a close, Dan will be covered head-to-toe with bruises! He also gets soundly slapped, spit upon and splashed with vodka.
On the other hand, Dan performs one of the most convincing stage kisses I’ve ever seen. No wonder because in real life Dan’s married to actress Crystal Rowlands, who plays his hot-to-trot girlfriend in “Black Comedy.”
Stage manager/lighting designer Sarah Anson is the unseen star of “Black Comedy,” a slapsticky farce based on the premise that a fuse had blown and the characters are stuck in the dark, unable to see their surroundings or each other. Anson played that lighting board like a musician plays piano, flipping on and off the lights as quick as a wink, never missing a cue on opening night.
Director by Justin Polly might’ve toned down his cast just a tad. The introduction of a supposedly deaf character led the players to loudly yell line after line. After awhile the shouting was less funny than annoying. “Black Comedy” also featured Kasey McHale, Kate Kisselstein, William Edward White, Jay Merante and the delightfully swishy Alan Stillman.
A couple complaints
Sir Peter Shaffer’s surname is misspelled in the CNY Playhouse program.
And the CNY Playhouse entryway door is in desperate need of oil. Whenever a latecomer arrives at the theater, the hinges squeal like a stuck pig. It certainly distracts the audience, and can’t be appreciated by those on stage.
“The White Liars” runs in tandem with “Black Comedy” at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 20, 21 and 22, at the CNY Playhouse at Shoppingtown Mall. Tickets cost $17 on Thursday, and $20 Fridays and Saturday. CNY Playhouse is located near the mall’s Macy’s entrance; 885-8960; cnyplayhouse.com.
