Theater Review: 'Ca$h on Delivery' at TheatreWorks New Milford

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

TheatreWorks New Milford has opened their production of the classic British farce “Cash on Delivery” by Michael Cooney. The play, which premiered at the Whitehall Theatre in London in 1996, is directed by Gene Golaszewski and continues through May 27.

This fast-paced comedy concerns Eric Swan, a con artist who has duped the British welfare authorities out of thousands of pounds by claiming every type of benefit for the innumerable people that he claims live at his address. When welfare investigators show up at his door, he is sent scrambling as he is forced to come up with increasingly elaborate (and hysterical) lies to cover his tracks. It comes as no surprise that the cheat is nabbed in the end, but it is a bit of a surprise how it all works out.

TheatreWorks President Christine Daley calls this piece a classic example of the British farce genre. It has “been praised for its clever writing, sharp wit and energetic performances…The play is full of mistaken identities, double crossing, and hilarious physical comedy.”

Joel Michael leads the cast in the role of Eric Swan and delivers a crushing amount of lines with a very good sense of comic timing.

Marnie D'Uva plays his unsuspecting wife Linda Swan in her debut performance on the TheatreWorks stage. D’Uva played Annette Reille in “God of Carnage” and Truvy in “Steel Magnolias,” both at Community Theatre at Woodbury.

Patrick Kelly of Ridgefield does well as Norman MacDonald, the Swan’s only real “lodger,” in his debut at TheatreWorks. Kelly was part of “Lion in Winter” in Brookfield and “Now or Later” at Square One Theatre Company in Stratford.

Jeffrey Rossman returns to this stage to play Eric’s partner in crime, Uncle George. I remembered Rossman from his appearance as Anibal in “Calling Puerto Rico,” the world premiere production of the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center at Seven Angels.

Kristin Aug, who was part of “Blood at the Root” at Brookfield Theater for the Arts and NewArts’ “A Christmas Carol,” plays family crisis worker Sally Chessington.

Joe Harding has his usual wonderful comic timing in the role of Dr. Chapman, a marriage counselor. He has appeared on this stage a number of times and at many other local venues.

Ron Malyszka just about steals the show in the role of George Jenkins. He is as adorable as always. This veteran community actor has been on this stage in “Mornings at Seven,” and I will never forget his performance in “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

The play’s producer Kimberly Marcus makes her first appearance at TheatreWorks in the role of Jenkins’ supervisor Ms. Cowper. Gale Alexander (“Witness for the Prosecution”) plays an undertaker named Mr. Forbright, and Laura O'Brien makes her Connecticut theater debut at TheatreWorks New Milford in the role of Norman’s fiancee Brenda Dixon.

The scenic design for the farce contains some pieces of the “Freud’s Last Session” set, four doors and a great pink couch center stage. It easily brings the audience to the living room of Eric Swan in East London on a windy October morning. Lighting design by Leif Smith (“Freud’s”) works well and the costumes designed by Sue Haneman are well-chosen and fun, and work well with the physical comedy demands.

“Cash on Delivery” runs about two hours and continues weekends until May 27. There is some sexual innuendo and cross dressing in the script. Show times on Fridays and Saturdays are 8:00 pm with a matinee at 2:00pm on Sunday May 21. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating. Students and Military personnel and Veterans with ID will be admitted for $20.00. Pay What you Want Night will be on Thursday May 18 at 8:00 pm and reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations can be made online at theatreworks.us or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

All performances will be held at TheatreWorks, 5 Brookside Avenue, New Milford and there is plenty of parking behind the theater. (For GPS use 20 Elm Street Ext., New Milford 06776.)

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.