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The Bungler by North Coast Repertory Theatre  Moliere, the celebrated seventeenth-century French
playwright, is alive and kicking at North Coast Repertory Theatre where they
are currently staging his first full-length comedy, The Bungler. And
with its outrageous characters and some equally outrageous costumes, the stage
is set for a bright and blithe evening of entertainment.
The plot spins around the clever and mischievous Mascarille, servant of the young gentleman Lelie. The latter desperately needs Mascarille’s cleverness to help him marry the beautiful gypsy woman Celie who has stolen Lelie’s heart, but problems abound. For one thing, Lelie’s father wants him to marry big-haired Hippolyte – a woman of some worth financially speaking. For another thing, Celie is the ward of the elderly Trufaldin who isn’t interested in having his servant romanced away from him. Meanwhile, Celie is also being wooed by Lelie’s rival Leandre. Not a problem for the quick-thinking Mascarille who enjoys a good challenge. That is, it wouldn’t be a problem if the not-so-clever Lelie would stop accidentally bungling Mascarille’s plans every time he gets things perfectly set up. The lyrical script, translated superbly by Richard Wilbur, keeps the play hopping with a rapid-fire succession of jokes and plot twists, while the physical humor earns most of the bigger laughs. Fortunately the cast is adept at both, led by the irrepressible David Ari as Mascarille whose brain and body never stop as he pulls out all the stops to get his master with the girl, delighting in the art of being conniving. David’s knack for the scheming knave is critical to the show’s success, and he successfully leads the misadventures while engaging the audience throughout. Elsewhere, Jeremiah Lorenz is endearingly dim-witted and demonstrates excellent comic timing as Lelie. Dimiter D. Marinov steals his scenes as Trufaldin, Celie’s guardian, whose hysterically over-the-top facial expressions and posturing are a hit each time he parades onto the stage. Janel DeGuzman is charmingly exotic as the flirty yet demure gypsy, using her eyes and body language to easily captivate her two suitors, while Lisel Gorell-Getz is the polar opposite as the frizzy-haired, whining Hippolyte who understands the attraction of Celie, but hopes that her money and looks will land her at least one of Celie’s suitors. Tim Curns is that other suitor who is very likable, but you’re still compelled to root for Mascarille’s man in winning Celie. Wayne Jordan and David Gallagher play the old fathers of Lelie and Hippolyte who care more for money and social standing than they do for true love. Director Terry Glaser keeps things fast, furious, and funny, and sometimes inventive like when night falls on the town (some stars drop from above). Marty Burnett has created a handsome Italian courtyard, while Jeanne Reith’s outlandishly loud costumes helps keep you even more dazzled and off-balanced by the non-stop hi-jinks.Performs through May 15, 2005.
Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Mascarille: David Ari Leandre: Tim Curns Celie: Janel DeGuzman Anselme: David Gallagher Hippolyte: Lisel Gorell-Getz Pandolfe: Wayne Jordan Lelie: Jeremiah Lorenz Trufaldin: Dimiter D. Marinov Andres, Ergaste, Messenger: Anthony Pavelich Director: Terry Glaser Set Design: Marty Burnett Lighting Design: Mia Bane Jacobs Costume Design: Jeanne Reith Sound Design: Terry Glaser Stage Manager: Aaron Rumley Properties Design: Bonnie Durben |
