Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Contemporary Theater’s current show is “Unnecessary Farce” by Paul Slade Smith. The audience is in on a sting operation in a budget hotel where two rookie cops work with a municipal accountant to ensnare the mayor they suspect of embezzling millions. The bumbling mayor eventually leads them to the heart of the Scottish mob with hilarious and unexpected results. It has clever plot twists and turns when you think something is going to happen but it doesn’t turn out the way you expect it to. Many pratfalls and doors slamming constantly and sometimes with someone caught behind them. Director Rebecca Magnotta is used to directing serious shows but she tackles this farce and comes up a winner at the laugh a minute antics of her talented cast.
She gives them plenty of shtick to perform and they perform it to a tee. The two bumbling cops are marvelous to watch. Jake Clarke and Christine Cauchon shine as officers Eric Sheridan and Billie Dwyer. He gets a lot of action in more ways then he first anticipates as he disrobes and a young lady to go with it. Jake first puts his mind into being a by the book cop but meets the pretty accountant and becomes tongue tied while delivering clever one liners. The undressing scenes are hysterical and when he dons a kilt to deliver some Scottish lines that leave you rolling in the aisles. Christine has many funny moments, too. The scarfing of donuts while watching the video is a laugh out loud moment. Her fight scene with Agent Frank on the bed and her interpretation of a long Scottish line is a definite show stopper. Both Jake and Christine shine in these roles.
Pretty Emily Carter plays Karen Clark, the pretty accountant who is enamored of Officer Sheridan. Their sex scenes and naughty ones when the Mayor and his unsuspecting wife appear on the scene are excellently done. One of the biggest scene stealers of the show is Ryan Sekac as Todd, the Scottish Mafioso enforcer. His Scottish accent is a hoot and his funny antics are priceless. The mistaken identities, the door slamming, the sexual innuendoes and plot twists abound all night long. His garbled speech wins many laughs as he threatens everybody in sight.
Rounding out this laugh a minute show is Daniel Greene as Agent Frank who is the security man assigned to protect the Mayor but is more of a cowardly lion type. He does a marvelous job as he quails and quakes and misunderstands the phrase I’m hot. Terry Simpson plays the befuddled Mayor, who may have more smarts than anyone thinks. Sandy Cerel plays his quirky wife, Mary Meekly who we find out might not be so meek after all. It is the perfect way to spend a hot summer evening in an air conditioned theatre. So be sure to catch this madcap farce at Contemporary Theater before time runs out. Tell them Tony sent you.
The Contemporary Theater Company 327 Main St., Wakefield, RI
1(401)218-0282 or www.thecontemporarytheater.com
