Review: 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers' at Ridgefield Theater Barn

Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Theater Barn, not to be confused with the Ridgefield Playhouse, has brought back a comedy by Neil Simon entitled THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS to open their 54th season. The Barn’s production is directed by Michael Ferrara and runs through September 28, 2019. Pamme Jones, who gave the curtain speech at the matinee I attended, is the Executive Director of the RTB.

The Neil Simon comedy is presented with two ten-minute intermissions, which allows patrons to head to the gender neutral restroom or reload on snacks, because all Barn productions feature cabaret seating at tables of four or in the two back rows of counter seating. I actually appreciated the flow of the play and enjoyed my high seat in the back row.

In this classic comedy that I had always wanted to see, Barney Cashman is a forty-seven year old restaurateur in the midst of a mid-life crisis, who begins to feel the desire to roam and realizes that one day each week, his mother's apartment will be empty all afternoon while she volunteers at Beth-Israel Hospital. He makes several attempts at seduction with three separate and unique women, only to learn that it is much more complicated and difficult than he could have imagined.

I was afraid that the comedy might be dated and not appeal to the modern audience, but I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Simon’s work stood the test of time. While there is a bit of sexual innuendo, this is a pretty clean swinging show. The direction of Mr. Ferrara in his RTB debut was perfect, especially with the physical comedy, and allowed all four of his talented actors to bring this production to new heights. I was not surprised to read that Mr. Ferrara has been acting in and directing plays for the last 30 years in and around Westchester County; he is currently writing a piece that deals with the effects of drug addiction on the addict’s family entitled PARABLE.

Duane Lanham (URINETOWN, WRECK THE HALLS) is the only guy in the cast and he gave a very physical, very funny performance in the role of the middle-aged Barney Cashman. Before each of the potential lovers arrives, his character prepares himself and the neat New York’s East Thirties apartment in a hysterical pantomime in which Mr. Lanham displayed much of his physical comedy all alone on the stage. Considering the fact that the only time the actor got to leave the stage was for brief forays into his mother’s kitchen, he never lost the essence of his character and brought out much of the comedy with a single look. He also easily conveyed how Mr. Cashman got a bit bolder with every attempt at an affair.

Paulette Layton of Ridgefield appeared in the first act as Elaine (not Irene) Navazio and wow, did she nail her role of the married and callous woman that Mr. Cashman picked up in his seafood restaurant in December. There was not a single false move (or look) in her performance and I hope to see this actress in any of her upcoming roles. Ms. Layton has served on the board of RTB for eight years.

Kate Patton (AND THEN THERE WERE NONE at TBTA) made her Theatre Barn debut as the young Bobbi Michele, a nutty actress wanna-be who met Mr. Cashman in the park in August. Bobbi embodies the late sixties in the second act and this actress was just as professional as her castmates in the role, although she was the only one who had to sing.

Linda Seay (also seen at TBTA) made her entrance in the third act in the role of Jeannette Fisher, the wife of Barney’s handball partner who is gloomy and depressed and makes no secret that she is on medication. She also brought impressive acting to her role and helped the show to finish strong.

The set designed by Nick Kaye of Bethel was period appropriate for the mother of the protagonist, and the scenic design/painting of Joanne Gorenstein included a photo of JFK who was referenced in the script. Sound designer Erik Tonner chose incidental music that was certainly of the late sixties. For the most part, the costumes designed/coordinated by Gina Tonner also fit the time, although I would quibble with a few of the choices for the ladies as being a bit too contemporary.

At my second Ridgefield Theater Barn production, I realized that this venue will henceforth be known as the theater that knows how to accessorize the tables at their shows with the perfect props. While URINETOWN offered signature cocktails in specimen bottles, RED HOT LOVERS featured cases of Red Hots candies and glass ashtrays with logoed matchbooks or (empty) cigarette boxes. Thankfully, smoking was still not allowed. Patrons brought along everything imaginable, including a box of pizza, sandwiches, wine and cheese and lots more, all of which smelled wonderful.

Last of the Red Hot Lovers, a comedy by Neil Simon
Directed by Michael Ferrara

September 6th through the 28th
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm
Sunday Sept 15th & 22nd at 5pm
Cabaret Seating ~ Bring Food & Drink ~ Doors open 1 hour prior to curtain

The Ridgefield Theater Barn is located at 37 Halpin Lane; cabaret seating, bring food & beverage, doors open one hour prior to curtain. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for students, seniors, and veterans, and available at ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org

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. 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.

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