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Thursday, October 12, 2006
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CLC stirs up a laugh-laden 'Racket' THEATER REVIEW Entertainment Editor Kevin Porter, who has played a handful of memorable background roles for Central Lakes College Theatre, gets his chance to shine in "Captain Racket."
The Brainerd actor gives a delightful turn as beard-sporting, cane-carrying curmudgeon Obadiah Dawson (the uncle of the title character), who limps around the stage and chews every line of dialogue with high-pitched gusto.
The play by Charles Townsend is intended to be a laugh riot, and Porter leads a strong cast in making sure it is. Townsend has a way with words, but here's the rub: He wrote and set "Captain Racket" in 1893, when people used slang terms now extinct.
Because posterior-shaking housekeeper Katy (Rebecca Kallio, Deerwood) refers to Mrs. Tolman (Jo Kennedy, Staples) as "mum," I assumed she was the Tolmans' daughter. I eventually realized "mum" was "ma'am" in 1893 and doesn't imply a familial relation. (Read the program's essay/glossary by Joan Wiesner beforehand to prepare yourself.)
The New York home that serves as "Captain Racket's" only set boasts the colorful backdrop that's par for the course on farcical productions. The crew adorned the back wall with painted-on bookshelves and chandeliers; the doorway is the only functional aspect. The set is simple - owing, no doubt, to CLC's unfortunate elimination of the technical theater program this semester - but it works. David Wilson and Jessica Huppler supply the period attire: poofy dresses and long tuxes and top hats.
But sets and costumes don't guarantee a funny show; that's up to the actors. Following Porter's lead and also playing it to the hilt Friday were:
¥ Lola Hamm of Ironton as Mrs. Racket, who attracts the advances of Obadiah, then later takes up smoking and drinking so her husband will leave her (don't ask). Hamm shows off her high-kicking skills at one point.
¥ Lad Fisk of Fort Ripley as Mr. Tolman, who married a temper-prone fright of a woman for her money. He shows off his acrobatic skills during a fight scene.
If you go
What: "Captain Racket"
Presented by: Central Lakes College Theatre
Director: Dennis Lamberson
When: 3 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Where: Chalberg Theatre, CLC, Brainerd
Tickets: $5
Phone: 855-8199
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¥ Kennedy, augmented by a prosthetic nose, as the verbal punching bag, Mrs. Tolman. Obadiah has to down a couple shots of brandy upon first laying eyes on this "sour, vinegar-faced terror."
¥ Nicholas Brutscher of Little Falls as the scheming Captain Racket, who is not so successful at scheming.
The cast is so fun to watch that it hardly mattered that I didn't have a firm grasp on what the heck was going on until after the final curtain dropped.
Several area shows in recent years have claimed to be hilarious farces, but just turned out to be farces. The performers in "Captain Racket," though, go out and earn their laughs.
Grade: A-
JOHN HANSEN, entertainment editor, can be reached at john.hansen@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5863.
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