Wednesday, January 16, 2019

review - CASH ON DELIVERY - Hale Centre Theatre


Darryl Poenisch, Will Hightower, Joey Morrison, and, Josh Hunt
photo by Nick Woodward-Shaw
highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 9th.

"...Hale Centre Theatre's production of Michael Cooney's 1996 farce Cash on Delivery hits all the requisite marks with a superb cast who lovingly throw themselves into the wild shenanigans at breakneck speed, combined with succinct direction and rich creative elements, resulting in a rip-roaring good time. The plot follows the plight of the unemployed, though also entirely endearing, landlord Eric Swan who has found a way to scam the British government out of benefits for his fictitious tenants. His scheme has been providing him with a steady income for two years, but it begins to unravel when a government agent visits him to get signatures on several documents...Michael Cooney has crafted a rich plot with many layers and an assortment of kooky characters, as well as an ending that ties everything up nicely. However, the beginning of the comedy is a bit slow, taking about 10 minutes for all of the elements to start to jell, and the second act is a bit padded. Fortunately, Cambrian James' direction is sharp and inspired, and his top-notch cast work exceptionally well together as they race through the farce. Josh Hunt as Eric and Will Hightower as his tenant Norman, who just learned about Eric's scheme, make a winning twosome who play very well off each other. When the lies and mistaken identities start to pile up, their characters get more frenzied and frazzled trying to hold it all together. Tim Paul Fiscus is equally as good as Mr. Jenkins, the agent who comes to obtain the signatures. ...Alaina Beauloye is outstanding playing the escalating exasperated tones of Eric's fraught wife Linda, ...James keeps the pace fast and the frenzy at a perfectly heightened level...With an abundance of laugh out loud moments and a very game cast, Hale Centre Theatre's production of Cash on Delivery is a comically rich and infectiously funny farce......... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

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