Kudos to Shot in the Dark Director Dan Pappas and star/victim Evan Pinsonnault for choreographing the many slapstick "accents" that bring on the laughs in this Marcel Achard prequel to the Pink Panther movies. Praise also goes to Leroy Cupp and his team for constructing an impressive set that can take door-slamming abuse, and then rotate for a completely new room in less than a minute.
Evan revels in his "Magistrate Sevigne" role (that would evolve into "Inspector Clouseau") with its stylized attitude, accent, and pratfalls. Steve Ledyard as Clerk Moristan serves as a focused mirror reacting to Evan's bumblings, while also being drunk and distracted by the loveliness of Chanae Houska, the accused "muer-derer." Chanae seems almost too girl-next-door to be involved in so many devious affairs, including one with her employer, Mark Mandenberg who likewise didn't seem quite "dirty-old-man" enough for such dalliances. Rachel Mender as his offended/devious wife, however, did have that stylized "edge" that balanced the stylized Magistrate, as she railed against her interrogation. Welcome newcomer Charlie Kamke to the RWT stage, who ably adding to the whodunit debate. Rebecca Mueller played Evan's beautiful, jealous wife and Matthew Lago added "the trimmings" as guard and butler.
This fun, slapstick whodunit continues this weekend and next at Riverwalk Theatre. 7pm Thurs; 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sundays. $14/$12 (Bargain Thursdays $10/$8) 482-5700 for reservations or at www.riverwalktheatre.com
Evan revels in his "Magistrate Sevigne" role (that would evolve into "Inspector Clouseau") with its stylized attitude, accent, and pratfalls. Steve Ledyard as Clerk Moristan serves as a focused mirror reacting to Evan's bumblings, while also being drunk and distracted by the loveliness of Chanae Houska, the accused "muer-derer." Chanae seems almost too girl-next-door to be involved in so many devious affairs, including one with her employer, Mark Mandenberg who likewise didn't seem quite "dirty-old-man" enough for such dalliances. Rachel Mender as his offended/devious wife, however, did have that stylized "edge" that balanced the stylized Magistrate, as she railed against her interrogation. Welcome newcomer Charlie Kamke to the RWT stage, who ably adding to the whodunit debate. Rebecca Mueller played Evan's beautiful, jealous wife and Matthew Lago added "the trimmings" as guard and butler.
This fun, slapstick whodunit continues this weekend and next at Riverwalk Theatre. 7pm Thurs; 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sundays. $14/$12 (Bargain Thursdays $10/$8) 482-5700 for reservations or at www.riverwalktheatre.com
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