[NEohioPAL]Beacon Journal reviews WRP's "Cliffhanger"

Thu Jun 8 05:25:28 PDT 2006

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  Entertainment  
      Posted on Mon, Jun. 05, 2006

  Play doesn't kill laughs  Murder thriller `Cliffhanger' weaves comedy into plot  By Kerry Clawson  Beacon Journal staff writer    
  Michael Kermizis photo
  David Reifel (top) stars as Henry Lowenthal and Jay Dial plays student Melvin McMullen in 'Cliffhanger' at Western Reserve Playhouse.

   Performance details 

  The main ingredients for Western Reserve Playhouse's Cliffhanger are a believable confrontation, an accidental murder and an ensuing moral dilemma. Add to that a deranged student, plus some surprising plot twists, and you have the recipe for a successful comedic thriller.
  Cliffhanger is a fun summer production that engages the mind. The first act is pretty straightforward as murderous events, as well as their consequences, unfold. But if, by the end of Act I, you think you've figured out how this story will end, think again.
  This has been a good week for mysteries/thrillers in the Akron area. Coach House's Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie entertained Thursday night, while Cliffhanger satisfied with a Friday-night opening. The former is a classic whodunit, while the latter is more of a ``how are they (the main characters) going to deal with this?'' murder story that contains quite a bit more humor.
  The plot centers on philosopher Henry Lowenthal (David Reifel) and his wife, Polly, (Kathy Turk). Henry's up for an endowed chair at Mesa Grande, a small university in the Rockies. But the vindictive chairwoman of the department, Edith (Stayce Nabors), intends to keep it from him.
  After committing murder with the bust of Socrates, Henry actually has the presence of mind to discuss changing a grade with his volatile student, Melvin McMullen (Jay Dial). Dial does a good job of making Melvin seem pathetic but also slightly dangerous.
  The show contains some ironically witty references to the great philosopher Socrates, including this one by Dave DeVito, a cop who is also Henry's former student: ``He's been dead for 2000 years, and he can still pack a wallop.'
  Reifel, who also directs the show, is highly believable as second-generation Polish professor Henry, right down to his accent. He's a man famous for his principles, whose words to his students -- current and former -- end up blowing up in his face. Reifel excels at the end of Act I, a turning point for Henry, where he becomes angry and decides to take further violent action. Reifel also makes audience members pause when he asks himself whether he is a moral or immoral man just before the play's resolution.
  Turk has the funniest role in the show as wife Polly, with her deadpan delivery of insults. She creates a humorous juxtaposition between her sweet face and voice and her cold and calculating attitude.
  In one of the play's most humorous scenes, Turk's Polly talks to detective Dave DeVito (Walt Kaminski) about how difficult it must be for missing student Melvin to ``keep quiet'' and that he must be ``tied up at the moment,'' creating great parallels to an adjacent pantry scene where Henry is trying to keep the bound and gagged student's mouth shut.
  This 1985 play has some mild language and some violent content. Children middle-school age and older should be able to handle it.
  I have only one beef with this story, which stems from academic rivalry: It's unrealistic that the retiring Henry would see his first hint of malice from former student/department chair Edith at such a late date in his career.
  Edith also isn't dressed as an academic at all, with her short black skirt and high heels without hose. Cast members outfitted themselves, but Nabors could have chosen something more tasteful for a professor.
  Kaminski's set features faux stone around the entryway to the professor's home as well as a pleasant mountain vista in the background. The cast's and crew's hard work makes for a quality evening of theater.

---------------------------------
  Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail at kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com. 

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<DIV><BR></DIV>  <DIV class=pagetitletext style="CLEAR: both">Entertainment  <A title=http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/rss.xml href="http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/rss.xml" target=_blank><IMG title=http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/rss.xml alt=XML src="http://www.ohio.com/images/common/rss.gif" border=0></A></DIV>  <DIV id=article_body>  <DIV class=timestamp_articletools>  <DIV class=article_timestamp>Posted on Mon, Jun. 05, 2006</DIV>  <DIV class=divclear></DIV></DIV>  <H1>Play doesn't kill laughs</H1>  <H2>Murder thriller `Cliffhanger' weaves comedy into plot</H2>  <H5>By Kerry Clawson</H5>  <H6>Beacon Journal staff writer</H6>  <DIV id=article_related>  <DIV class=photorelated><IMG height=228 alt="David Reifel (top) stars as Henry Lowenthal and Jay Dial plays student Melvin McMullen in 'Cliffhanger' at Western Reserve Playhouse." src="http://www.ohio.com/images/ohio/ohio/14745/217423885745.jpg" width=150 border=0></DIV>  <DIV
 class=photocredit>Michael Kermizis photo</DIV>  <DIV class=photocaption>David Reifel (top) stars as Henry Lowenthal and Jay Dial plays student Melvin McMullen in 'Cliffhanger' at Western Reserve Playhouse.</DIV>  <UL>  <LI><A title=http://ae.ohio.com/entertainment/ui/ohio/stage.html?id=49900 href="http://ae.ohio.com/entertainment/ui/ohio/stage.html?id=49900" target=_blank>Performance details</A> </LI></UL></DIV><!-- begin body-content -->  <DIV>The main ingredients for Western Reserve Playhouse's <I>Cliffhanger</I> are a believable confrontation, an accidental murder and an ensuing moral dilemma. Add to that a deranged student, plus some surprising plot twists, and you have the recipe for a successful comedic thriller.</DIV>  <DIV><I>Cliffhanger</I> is a fun summer production that engages the mind. The first act is pretty straightforward as murderous events, as well as their consequences, unfold. But if, by the end of Act I, you think you've figured out how this story will
 end, think again.</DIV>  <DIV>This has been a good week for mysteries/thrillers in the Akron area. Coach House's <I>Murder on the Nile</I> by Agatha Christie entertained Thursday night, while <I>Cliffhanger</I> satisfied with a Friday-night opening. The former is a classic whodunit, while the latter is more of a ``how are they (the main characters) going to deal with this?'' murder story that contains quite a bit more humor.</DIV>  <DIV>The plot centers on philosopher Henry Lowenthal (David Reifel) and his wife, Polly, (Kathy Turk). Henry's up for an endowed chair at Mesa Grande, a small university in the Rockies. But the vindictive chairwoman of the department, Edith (Stayce Nabors), intends to keep it from him.</DIV>  <DIV>After committing murder with the bust of Socrates, Henry actually has the presence of mind to discuss changing a grade with his volatile student, Melvin McMullen (Jay Dial). Dial does a good job of making Melvin seem pathetic but also slightly
 dangerous.</DIV>  <DIV>The show contains some ironically witty references to the great philosopher Socrates, including this one by Dave DeVito, a cop who is also Henry's former student: ``He's been dead for 2000 years, and he can still pack a wallop.'</DIV>  <DIV>Reifel, who also directs the show, is highly believable as second-generation Polish professor Henry, right down to his accent. He's a man famous for his principles, whose words to his students -- current and former -- end up blowing up in his face. Reifel excels at the end of Act I, a turning point for Henry, where he becomes angry and decides to take further violent action. Reifel also makes audience members pause when he asks himself whether he is a moral or immoral man just before the play's resolution.</DIV>  <DIV>Turk has the funniest role in the show as wife Polly, with her deadpan delivery of insults. She creates a humorous juxtaposition between her sweet face and voice and her cold and calculating
 attitude.</DIV>  <DIV>In one of the play's most humorous scenes, Turk's Polly talks to detective Dave DeVito (Walt Kaminski) about how difficult it must be for missing student Melvin to ``keep quiet'' and that he must be ``tied up at the moment,'' creating great parallels to an adjacent pantry scene where Henry is trying to keep the bound and gagged student's mouth shut.</DIV>  <DIV>This 1985 play has some mild language and some violent content. Children middle-school age and older should be able to handle it.</DIV>  <DIV>I have only one beef with this story, which stems from academic rivalry: It's unrealistic that the retiring Henry would see his first hint of malice from former student/department chair Edith at such a late date in his career.</DIV>  <DIV>Edith also isn't dressed as an academic at all, with her short black skirt and high heels without hose. Cast members outfitted themselves, but Nabors could have chosen something more tasteful for a professor.</DIV> 
 <DIV>Kaminski's set features faux stone around the entryway to the professor's home as well as a pleasant mountain vista in the background. The cast's and crew's hard work makes for a quality evening of theater.</DIV><!-- end body-content --><!-- begin body-end -->  <DIV class=body-end>  <DIV class=tagline>  <HR class=tagline color=#cccccc SIZE=1>  <I><SPAN class=tagline>Theater critic Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail at <A title=mailto:kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com href="http://us.f810.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com" target=_blank>kclawson at thebeaconjournal.com</A>.</SPAN></I> </DIV></DIV><!-- end body-end -->  <DIV id=articletools_bottom>  <DIV class=container_ad></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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