Silliness and deception reign in
Lake Country Players' summer comedy "It Runs in the
Family." The prestigious British playwright Ray Cooney,
who has spent the past 65 years making people laugh, wrote the
production. He has been called the British Neil Simon, but I
don't completely agree with the comparison, since Simon's
plays are far less farcical with more realistic, developed
characters.
However, that is not to disparage Cooney's ability to
create outlandish situations and highly exaggerated
personalities. The situation in this play involves highly
respected neurologist Dr. Mortimer, who is to deliver his
shining-moment lecture to a gathering of neurologists and
possibly put himself in a position to receive many honors. He
is confronted by a nurse from his past who informs him that he
had a son with her 19 years earlier. Since Mortimer is married
and holds a prominent position in the hospital, he is not
thrilled to find out he has a son who wants to meet him. This
surprising event is the catalyst for all that follows - the
series of lies and the attempted cover-up of his youthful
indiscretion.
Jerry Haerle has a demanding job sustaining the intensity
of Mortimer. Though he is well-suited, he could tone it down
at times. His fall guy, Dr. Bonney, was masterfully rendered
by Jim Baker, an actor with a strong comic flair. Jamee
Hueschen, as Mortimer's former sweetheart, does a good job
maintaining her dignity and strength amid chaos. Her son,
Leslie, exaggerates his trauma beyond the limits of farce.
Kyle Konetzke could perhaps mute his reactions at times.
Other actors who contributed to the confusion and humor are
Breanne Brennan as the matron, though she looked a bit young
for the title; Taylor Kass, delightful as the harmless little
grandma; and Sandra Rennick, who credibly portrayed Mortimer's
"knowing" wife.
The set design by Mike Crowley and Ron Ehrlich gave the
small stage the needed depth to accommodate a lot of
shenanigans on a window ledge. Three sets of doors also
allowed for many explosive comings and goings, a requirement
for most farces.
Farces are designed to stretch our imaginations beyond the
boundaries of credibility. One has to get in the mood for a
plethora of incongruities - mistaken identities, improbable
situations, some physical humor, fast pacing and lots of
entrances and exits. "It Runs in the Family"
qualifies on all levels. The cast worked hard to give us an
amusing experience and looked like they were having fun in the
process.
Directed by Crowley, the show runs one more weekend at the
Lake Country Playhouse, 221 E. Capitol Drive, Hartland. Call
367-4697 for times and tickets.
