'The Underpants' at Phoenix Stage Company - My Review

The Underpants is the most recent adaptation of the 1910 German farce Die Hose by the playwright Carl Sternheim. The adaptation was written by comic actor and author of Picasso at the Lapine Agile, Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin. Last year it was done at Long Wharf in New Haven in a co-production with Hartford Stage. Didi Conn played the role of Gertrude. The play opened at Naugatuck's Phoenix Stage Company on Saturday and I had a great complimentary seat for opening night. After the show, the comedy and improv Abridged performed some great exercises that kept the remaining audience members in stitches.

The show is a wild satire adapted from the classic German piece about Louise and Theo Maske in 1910 Dusseldorf. Their conservative existence is shattered when Louise’s bloomers fall down in public (the incident happens offstage); though she pulls them up quickly, he thinks the incident will cost him his job as a government clerk. Louise’s momentary display does not result in the feared scandal but it does attract two infatuated men, each of whom wants to rent the spare room in the Maske’s home. Oblivious of their amorous objectives, Theo splits the room between them, happy to collect rent from both the foppish poet and the whiny hypochondriac. I found it to be very funny and very well presented by this talented cast of actors.  

Louise was played by the lovely Kristen Jacobsen (Fuddy Mears, Death & Taxes, and Sweeney Todd,) and her husband Theo was played at the last minute by the very talented Rob Richnavsky. Ms. Jacobsen has eyes that can tell so much and she is perfectly cast as the young wife.

Mr. Richnavsky replaced another actor who was injured and unable to perform, but there was no indication whatsoever of that fact in his wonderfully comic and broad performance as the bad guy that I found impossible to dislike. His credits at PSC include the one act festival last month, Murdered to Death, Arsenic and Old Lace, Fuddy Mears, The Last Supper (he was our Jesus) and many more.

Tony Benedetti returned to the PSC for a second time to play well the role of an older scientist named Klinglehoff. Alex Carrasco returned to the Phoenix stage to play the role of Mr. Cohen and did a really good job with the role of the nebbishy young barber who tries to hide the fact that he is Jewish from his landlord. He last appeared as Frail Young John in Writer's Cramp and has also worked at Square One Theater in The Good Doctor. Patti Paganucci was at her comic best as Gertrude Deuter, the upstairs neighbor/busybody.

Founding Phoenix Stage Company partner Ed Bassett played the role of the foppish Versati. It is probably easier to list what Mr. Bassett has not been in lately and he is looking forward to a little break from appearing on the stage after this show closes. He was extremely funny in this piece because he is an expert in comic timing. He also played the German king in the second act in a complete costume change.

Tim Phillips, in his third time directing at the PSC, made this fun show even funnier with his strong comedic sense. I liked the poses at the end of the scenes. Debbie Cryan made her debut as his stage manager. The massive (by PSC standards) set was designed by Mr. Bassett and built with the help of Mark E. Rees and Laurie Phillips. Lori Poulin worked her magic with the period props and Al Hathway designed the fine lighting. The beautiful period costumes came from Arabesque Dance & Theater Shop.

I highly recommend that my readers head to the hometown theater on Rubber Avenue to enjoy this very funny (and a little saucy) show. The Sunday matinee is sold out but tickets are available for the next two weekends. The show runs June 13, 14, 20 & 21, 2014 at 8:00pm and June 8 & 15, 2014 at 2:00pm. Tickets are $22, seniors, students and teachers get in for $18. Click here to order online.