[NEohioPAL] RAVE REVIEW of "Romantic Fools" a comedy for grown ups at Actors' Summit

[Neil Thackaberry]

‘Romantic Fools’ takes stage, audience at Actors’ Summit

*1/20/2011 - West Side Leader*

*By David Ritchey*

*Production showcases physical comedy***


DOWNTOWN AKRON — “Romantic Fools,” by Rich Orloff, is one of the most
successful productions to come our way in a long, long time. Hats off to
Actors’ Summit Theater for introducing local audiences to Orloff, a graduate
of Oberlin College.


Orloff didn’t go for the cute one-liners that were so popular a few years
ago. He wrote this play in an intelligent, witty style, with lines that make
the audience laugh and then stop and think. More is going on in this script
than what appears on the surface.


Orloff wrote a three-character play, with Andrew (Keith Stevens), Lori
(Shani Ferry) and the audience. In the first scene, Andrew and Lori talk to
the audience and engage its members in their efforts to date someone. The
Jan. 16 matinee audience responded well to being a part of the cast.


As Lori and Andrew go through all of the problems of meeting, dating and,
perhaps, marrying, they keep the audience involved in the production by
occasionally stopping the action and talking to the audience. That helps
make “Romantic Fools” the perfect date play. Even if you’re married, you
might enjoy a date with your spouse for this production and talk about the
play for days and nights.


Each of the 11 scenes in the play deals with a different dating problem. For
example, Lori’s friend wants her to meet a primitive man. He shows up in
animal skins and brings her flowers and a frozen steak. This is meat he has
killed and prepared for her. He doesn’t talk — he grunts, groans and growls.


In the next scene, “Nightmare With a Sexy Skirt,” Lori is the date from
hell. In her efforts to improve Andrew during their first date, she says,
“I’ve some criticism about you, too. You know. You want to see them? I wrote
them down in the bathroom after the movie.” Then she pulls out a long roll
of toilet tissue with words written all over it.


Later in the scene, she manages to handcuff him. Then she says to him: “I
bet you’re great at cleaning the oven ... by the way, do you happen to know
what your annual adjusted gross income is?”

The actors never drop out of character or out of the good times of this
production. Stevens, who usually plays the handsome, romantic roles, finally
gets a chance to do physical comedy. He’s excellent in this physically
challenging role. In one scene, he has the chef hide an engagement ring in
Lori’s dinner. Instead of fish (which would be an easy place to hide the
ring), she orders spaghetti. Neither of them can find the ring. He removes
his shirt and dives into the bowl of spaghetti. Of course it’s a trick bowl
and table. Finally, only his legs are showing as he stands on his head in
the spaghetti.


Ferry usually plays the cute romantic interest. In this production, however,
she becomes the stronger character in several scenes. She seems more adept
at physical comedy than any actress we’ve seen in this area in a long time.
At one point, she dives across the sofa in gymnast style.


Each scene is directed by a different director: Neil Thackaberry, Peter
Voinovich, Daniel Taylor and Shawn Galligan. On the surface this seems to
have disaster written all over it. Fortunately, the show moves smoothly from
scene to scene with a harmony that is difficult to find in many productions
that are directed by only one director.


Unfortunately, “Romantic Fools” only runs through Jan. 30. I suspect this
production could hold the stage for a significantly longer run. That means
those who want to see the show need to call 330-374-9568 today for tickets.


Remember, Actors’ Summit has moved to the Greystone Hall, 103 S. High St.
The theater gets rave reviews for the covered parking deck just across the
street and a guy standing in front of the entrance to Greystone Hall to open
the door, offer directions and to provide security for the parking lots.

*
*

*David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of
communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American
Theatre Critics Association.*
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