Can a jealous actor fool his cheating wife? Lillian Groag (artistic associate at the Old Globe) directs a new adaptation of The Guardsman, the comic tour de force about love, fidelity and illusion by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnár. The premise: thespian Max Schuman is certain that his wife, actress Elena Beck is being unfaithful, and disguises himself as a Russian guardsman to test her devotion. In this new rendition by H. Patrikas Zakshevskis, Molnár’s classic has been freely adapted to be played by older actors. These are not the young twenty-somethings of the original — fresh newlyweds in the ascendance of their lives and relationship. This couple is in the autumn of their lives with a personal history between them that goes back much farther. They KNOW each other. A real-life couple who have performed opposite each other many times for over a decade, including in the award-winning production of Pinter’s The Lover and his A Slight Ache, Olek and Priver bring an important authenticity to their roles.
“Many modern productions play it strictly as comedy, but The Guardsman is not just fluff,” emphasizes Groag. “Our production stays true to Molnár’s intent – a lack of sentimentality and a high degree of neurosis are tantamount. It should be funny, but also a little disturbing.”
Performances of The Guardsman take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., May 17 through June 22. There will be two preview performances on Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16, both at 8 p.m. All tickets are $25, except previews which are $15. The NoHo Arts Center is located at 11136 Magnolia Boulevard in NoHo (North Hollywood, 91601). The NoHo Arts Center is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible. For reservations and information, call (323) 960-4418 or go to www.plays411.com/guardsman.
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