|
Tuesday, 08 August 2006 16:19 |
| John North
Editor & Publisher |
MARS HILL ?? Despite its co-sponsorship, Gannett Co. Inc., America??s largest newspaper chain, surely takes a slap in the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre??s production of ?®Taking a Chance on Love.?∆
And to its credit, the Gannett-owned Asheville Citizen-Times nonetheless gave the play a glowing review.
Indeed, C. Robert Jones?? drawing-room comedy, which marked the 51st world premiere for SART, is a tour-de-force of wit and charm that I thoroughly enjoyed in sold-out Owen Theatre at Mars Hill College last Friday night. Alas, as planned, its run ended last Sunday.
The
ins and outs of romance in its many combinations and permutations are
given a thorough airing in this delightful comedy that, in a rarity,
gives us even-handed ?? and deft ?? glimpes of the viewpoints of female
as well as male characters.
Interestingly,
listed among the production??s corporate sponsors for this year is the
News-Record & Sentinal, a Marshall-based weekly newspaper that
recently was purchased by Gannett. In 2005, when the Sentinel was still
independent, Gannett??s Citizen-Times was listed by SART as a ?®season
sponsor.?∆
The
aforementioned Gannett support is ironic because much of the subplot
revolves a wealthy Southern family??s difficulty in deciding on whether
to accept ?®a generous offer?∆ to sell its independent Charleston (S.C.)
Chronicle to Gannett, which is tweaked in the play for its corporate,
soulless orientation and the ?®cookie-cutter,?∆ lookalike appearance of
its papers.
While The
Chronicle is a fictitious publication, references are made to its
competitor, The Post & Courier, Charleston??s real-life daily ?? and
a paper not owned by Gannett ... at least, not yet.
As a point of
reference, Gannett owns 90 dailies in the United States, 17 dailies in
the United Kingdom and more than 1,000 non-dailies worldwide. USA
Today, Gannett??s flagship, is the largest-circulation daily in the U.S.
The company??s 2005 revenues totaled $7.6 billion.
As for the play
itself, Chronicle Publisher Edgar Rutledge (Ralph Redpath) remains
devoted 24/7 to his beloved paper and its high professional standards,
but also aspires to have the time to write a book.
He has weathered
two divorces resulting from his devotion to his paper over his wives ??
and his only son Ned (Chris Allison) appears disinterested in
continuing the family tradition into a fourth generation.
Edgar??s dowager
mother Margaret/Marguerite (Martha Hogenboom) is supportive of her
beloved son in whatever decision he makes on The Chronicle??s fate.
However, she also later admits to Edgar the pain of always being second
to her husband??s paper.
Meanwhile, Ned
is engaged to Madeleine (Alicia Ross), a much older French woman. She
has a beautiful, vivacious daughter from her first marriage, Solange
(Flynt Burton), who suddenly appears in Edgar??s home from Paris.
Solange is
almost electrical in her intensity toward Edgar ?? and gives an
over-the-top effort. As Solange, Burton makes this play sizzle in the
best performance I have seen in five years of play-going in the
Asheville area.
Adding spice are
Edgar??s two ex-wives ?? the sexy-but-tacky Roxanna (Alyssa Kennedy) and
sensible-but-dowdy Adele (Kay Crews St. Clair), both of whom were
invited by Edgar to meet Ned??s fianc?‡. The ex-wives?? often-catty
interplay is hilarious. Roxanna??s posturing, pouting and manipulative
behavior is a hoot.
Last but not
least is Kiki (Kenny Gannon), Madeline??s suave former French husband,
who takes an immediate liking for Marguarite ?? to great comedic effect.
I won??t reveal
the Rutledge??s decision on the Gannett offer, but I must say that that
this otherwise clever play takes a typically safe, feel-good approach
in resolving Edgar??s romantic quandary. I mean, who wouldn??t choose
Solange?
|
