[NEohioPAL] Rave Review of FIVE COURSE LOVE at Actors' Summit -- "delightful nonsense"

[Neil Thackaberry]

*New play set in five restaurants features ‘delightful nonsense’*

*6/23/2011 - West Side Leader*

 *By David Ritchey*


**

*Actor’s Summit presents ‘Five Course Love’***


DOWNTOWN AKRON — A new script makes a production more exciting and more fun.
That’s what’s happening with “Five Course Love,” which is now playing at
Actors’ Summit. Gregg Coffin (playwright) wrote the music, lyrics and book
for the show.


The plot deals with three characters who are looking for love. Each scene of
“Five Course Love” is played in a different style restaurant: barbecue,
Italian, German, Mexican and a typical American diner.

In each scene, three characters look for love (or a date). Those characters
are played by Stephen Brockway, Aubrey Caldwell and Keith E. Stevens. The
script provides these three performers an opportunity to display their
talents by singing, dancing, acting and working in various accents.


Brockway, a recent addition to the company, has a great singing voice and
the ability to play physical comedy with ease.


Caldwell, in her first production with Actors’ Summit, moves easily from
being a cowgirl, to dominatrix, to a diner-dolly. Caldwell sings well,
dances with ease and seems to have a sense of humor about her characters.


Stevens is doing his 22nd production with Actors’ Summit. He has honed his
comedic skills, sings well and seems at home on the Actors’ Summit stage.


MaryJo Alexander created the costumes. Alexander’s skills are obvious in
this production. When Caldwell makes her first entrance in each of the five
scenes, one has trouble realizing this is the same actress we’ve watched in
other scenes. Alexander combines vastly different clothing with wigs of
various colors and styles, giving Caldwell a completely different look for
each scene.


Alexander and Neil Thackaberry (co-directors) did some interesting work in
this production. Certain lines and comedy bits re-appear in each of the five
scenes. The directors make these bits comedic. They make the physical humor
truly silly and good entertainment. In one scene, Brockway rides a stick
horse while both wear similar cowboy hats. Caldwell rides a stick horse,
too, but she keeps the stick horse behind her — she’s riding side-saddle.
This type of delightful nonsense runs throughout the production.

Marcia Snavely (musical execution) and Justin Hart (percussion) accompanied
the performance and kept the music moving at a brisk pace. Michael Anderson
(musical director) trained and rehearsed the cast.

The performance runs about 90 minutes, without an intermission. “Five Course
Love” runs through July 24. For ticket information, call 330-374-7568.

*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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