Review: 'As Bees in Honey Drown' at Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT - Sacred Heart University Theatre Arts Program opened their production of AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, a play by Douglas Carter Beane. The work was staged at another CT university, Western CT State University back in 2010. The SHU students were directed by Jim Schilling, a co-founder of Music Theatre of CT in Norwalk and current managing director of the same. An Actors Equity Association member since 1980, Mr. Schilling is an adjunct professor at SHU who recently directed the memorable SHU summer theatre production of GODSPELL. How fortunate these up and coming theatre actors are able to continue to work with this talented director.

AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN is classified as a satirical comedy and centers on a beautiful con artist who serially takes advantage of the almost famous that she finds in magazines. Evan Wyler, a young gay writer with a breakout debut novel, has just appeared shirtless in a magazine to sell his much-discussed book because he is willing to do anything to climb to success. The writer meets the outrageously fashionable Alexa Vere de Vere, a socialite with seemingly every connection in the book, who wants Evan to write the screenplay for her autobiographical film. He follows her around for a few days spending lots of money until she suddenly disappears and Evan realizes Alexa has conned him out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Evan becomes obsessed with untangling her identity, first by tracking down her other victims and finally by finding his way to the husband she claimed killed himself, still alive, and a peaceful painter in the woods. Mike, the artist, tells Evan how he, many long years ago, was partially responsible for the creation of Alexa as she exists today, and it is with this newfound knowledge in her complete ordinariness that Evan decides it’s time for a reckoning. The question is whether he can outsmart this con artist by the end of this larger than life satirical fable about one’s identity in fame that is both very funny and quite dark.

The play’s title alludes to a motto Alexa teaches Evan, and it also serves to thematically summarize the show, “humanity gasping for air under the weight of its own culture.” I will admit that I had never heard of this piece before I attended the opening night and I only glanced at a brief synopsis as I waited in line to enter The Little Theatre. It turned out to be nothing like what I expected, with very short scenes that moved along the story. There were a few issues with lines on the opening night, most of which were covered without derailing the scene; the crushing amount of lines required of most of the actors explain the potential for opening night glitches.

It appeared that the director made a multitude of smart choices with where to put the actors in each of the short scenes, especially when a speaker had to switch between a scene from the past and one set in the time of the current action. As the lights came up or when they went down at the end of a scene, I appreciated the stage pictures that were painted.

Paxton McLane, a junior at SHU, took on the role of budding author Evan Wyler and did well with his character’s arc. SHU junior Delaney Lynch (Natalie in NEXT TO NORMAL at SHU) stepped into the demanding role of the leading character Alexa Vere De Vere, the con artist living in New York. The actress had a massive amount of rapid fire lines to deliver in a purposeful cadence and she made it all look easy; watching the transformation from her humble former life into the supposed socialite was accomplished with masterful acting.

The remaining members of the cast included just four other SHU students that had to cover many other supporting characters that surround Alexa. SHU junior Andrew Peloquin was great as Swen, Royalton clerk, Kaden and especially a photographer. SHU senior Kevin Carlson (CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, JCS, THE TEMPEST) played Ronald, Mike/Michael and Skunk in a great wig. Allison Campbell, a SHU freshman, played Amber, a backup singer, a secretary, Bethany, Ginny and a muse at the end of the second act.

Olivia Porriello, a sophomore Education major, was excellent as a waiter, another backup singer, Carla, a newsstand woman, Denise, Illya, and a second muse. This was the first time onstage at SHU for Ms. Porriello, although she has a slew of backstage credits; I hope to see more of her on the stage, a place where she clearly belongs.

Charlie Fusari worked as the assistant director with Kalliopi Gatzofias as the producer who welcomed the opening night audience to The Little Theatre, otherwise known as the former SHU chapel. Kevin McVeigh was in charge of the fine lighting of the honeycomb-inspired set designed by the Theatre Arts Program (TAP.) I liked the lights incorporated into the steps formed by the cells on the floor of the stage. Costumes designed by Ciara Ryan were better than what are pictured in the promotional posters, and props were designed by Julie Palumberi. Bella Scaglione took good care of the hair/wig and makeup design. Projections that shone upon cell-shaped screens easily and effectively marked the locations.

AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN runs Sept. 27-30 and Oct. 11-14, evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday matinees at 3:00pm in The Little Theatre in the main building at my alma mater Sacred Heart University. Tickets are available online.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre