Theater Review: "Lend Me A Tenor" at Music Theater of Connecticut

By Nancy Sasso Janis

The hilarious farce “Lend Me A Tenor” by Ken Ludwig is the winner of 3 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards. It is the second show in the 36th season of Music Theatre of Connecticut. The title is a pun on "Lend me a tenner," a ten-dollar bill.

The madcap hi-jinks, set in September of 1934, takes place when Tito Mirelli, the fiery-tempered and world famous Italian superstar, arrives in Cleveland to make his debut with the local opera and promptly goes missing causing chaos to ensue. The second act is filled with double-entendres and mistaken identity.

Director Pamela Hill (“Steel Magnolias”) uses her director’s notes in the printed program to explain some of the characteristics that identify the farce genre. There are mistaken identities, miscommunication, slapstick and clowning. The plot contains a preposterous situation and a comic reversal, the characters are simple and stereotypical and are exaggerated but plausible, and the action moves fast and therefore requires choreographed split-second timing. This final characteristic is never more apparent in “Lend Me A Tenor” than in the final scene that quickly recaps the entire play.

“Laughter is said to be good for your soul and will add years to your life. After a pandemic, I can think of no better medicine than farce…” - Pamela Hill

Michael Fasano plays the bigger role of Max, long-suffering assistant to Cleveland Grand Opera's general manager, in his Music Theatre debut. The actor gets to show off plenty of physical comedy in his role and even some opera singing. Fasano won a Connecticut Critics Circle nomination for “Footloose.”

New York City based actress/teaching artist Alexandra Fortin is the young and lovely Maggie Saunders, in flattering satin dresses and slips. This winter Fortin will appear in Nick Jr’s “Noggin Knows.” Jim Schilling plays the role of her father, Henry, the Opera's general manager. If Schilling’s name sounds familiar it may be because he is the co-founder of this theater. Schilling was also an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University where he directed “Godspell.”
Jeff Gurner, who was unforgettable in “Falsettoland” on this stage, lights up the scenes that he appears in as the hotel bellhop, leaving us wanting more.

Frank Matrone does well as the larger than life Mirelli, dubbed “Il Stupendo” and a notorious
ladies man, in his fourth show at Music Theatre of Connecticut. The actor was in the original cast of “The Phantom of the Opera. Wilton resident Cynthia Hannah (“Steel Magnolias” at MTC) plays Maria, the opera singer’s long-suffering wife, who also possesses an "Italian temper."

Jo Anne Parady, who has worked off-Broadway, appears as the Chairwoman of the Cleveland Opera Guild, who considers herself a "grande dame." She sparkles in her elaborate wig and shiny gown that makes her look "like the Chrysler Building." Emily Solo returns to the MTC stage after being part of “Sunset Boulevard” to play the seductive young soprano named Diana.

The scenic and props design of a beautiful hotel suite was designed by Sean Sanford, complete with five doors for slamming. The audience is able to see what's happening in both rooms at the same time.

The elegant costumes of the period were designed by resident costume designer Diane Vanderkroef further accented by hair and wig design by Peggy de la Cruz. Vanderkroef has designed for the Connecticut Grand Opera. Lighting by RJ Romeo, who is also the current technical director/associate director of production at Westport Country Playhouse, makes the most of the set with sound design by Will Atkin.

“Lend Me A Tenor” is performed with a 15-minute intermission and contains some sexual innuendo. Performances take place at MTC at 509 Westport Avenue in Norwalk, CT. There is a limited amount of parking available directly in front of MTC, with additional parking nearby. While MTC continues to monitor COVID-19, the venue longer requires masks or proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

The farce runs through Nov. 20 with performances Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. For information and tickets: https://www.musictheatreofct.c...

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. 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.

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