'Suite Surrender' at Phoenix Stage Company - My Review

The wonderful comedy playing at the Phoenix Stage Company in Naugatuck is called Suite Surrender, not be confused with the phrase and frequent song title "Sweet Surrender." It is billed as a "hilarious riot of a love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s" and a female version of Lend Me a Tenor. I enjoyed Lend Me a Tenor when I saw it in Goshen, so I looked forward to seeing this show. I am sorry that vacation prevented me from attending an earlier performance.

The piece is set in wartime 1942 in Palm Beach. Two of Hollywood’s biggest divas played to hilt by Lucia Dressel and Lauren Woolf, have descended upon a hotel with their assistants, luggage, and a legendary feud with one another in tow. When they are somehow assigned to the same hotel suite, hilarity ensues. There are the requisite mistaken identities, big personalities, double entendres, pratfalls and multiple doors put to frequent use.

The always funny Southington resident Donna Storms must have had a great time directing this talented cast to pull off this silliness. The comic timing never faltered and the precise entrances and exits were flawless, not to mention the myriad of props and (stuffed) lap dog. Ms. Storms probably deserves a choreography credit as well. Kudos to Stage Manager Lori Poulin of Northfield for keeping everything straight backstage.

The ladies playing the divas are equally matched in their excellence. Ms. Dressel will be directing the upcoming Master Class at the PSC; here she played Claudia McFadden, a demanding singer with attitude to spare and an assistant with the improbable name of Mr. Pippit (played by the incomparable John Fabiani.) Ms. Woolf  (an alum of Hallelujah Girls and Adventures of Peter Cottontail) appeared as Athena Sinclair, the amorous performer with her assistant Murphy Stevens (played by Oxford's Heather Graham in a rare virtuous role) in tow. 

The hotel owner's ditsy wife Mrs. Everett P. Osgood was played by the very funny Litchfield resident Jane Coughlin (Harvey.) Hamden resident Alana Kingsley (Red Velvet Cake War and Kill Me, Deadly) returns to the PSC stage to play Dora Del Rio, a nosey reporter in a great costume. PSC veteran Joshua Luszczak (Arsenic and Old Lace, Kill Me, Deadly, and Dial M for Murder) and Preston Bogan (in his PSC debut) were a riot as two distinct bellhops, Francis and Otis respectively. Mr. Bogan will be a senior at NHS this fall and will serve as the president of the drama club. He has also appeared in three shows with Naugatuck Teen Theater.

Finally, PSC partner Ed Bassett had to turn over his announce duties to Agnes Dann because he was perfectly cast as hotel manager Mr. Dunlap. Mr. Bassett always shines in broad comedy and this role is no exception. With just a look, the audience can't help laughing, as they did every time he said "Oh, Good God." He also served as set designer and builder of the lush hotel suite, props co-master, lighting and sound co-designer with Ms. Storms and yes, costumer, for this production. All were well done, as always, especially the classic forties ensembles. Rob Richnavsky provided the fight choreography.

I enjoyed the fun of the show and especially liked the ending. I loved watching some of the talented cast members stretching themselves in different types of roles, while the other did what they do so well. One (very picky) distraction for me were the many contemporary phrases that were inserted into the 1940's dialogue; admittedly they were nonetheless very funny.  

Suite Surrender continues next weekend and a matinee performance has been added next Sunday. Don't miss it!