Tag: 2015

Frantic but Funny “Don’t Dress for Dinner” in Gananoque

Frantic but Funny “Don’t Dress for Dinner” in Gananoque

Todd Thomson as Bernard & Kirk Smith as Robert.  Photo: Mark Bergen
Todd Thomson as Bernard & Kirk Smith as Robert. Photo:
Mark Bergen

The 1000 Islands Playhouse has mounted an antic production of “Don’t Dress for Dinner.”  The rollicking farce, by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Robin Hawdon, is a sequel of sorts to his earlier play, “Boeing Boeing,” in that it features the same male leads: Bernard, still having woman problems, in this case with his wife Jacqueline and mistress Suzanne, and Robert, his hapless friend.  Through a series of mis-chances they all end up in Bernard’s country home for a disastrous dinner party along with a hired cook, Suzette.

Jung-Hye Kim’s set is good, with plenty of doors for slamming, a necessity for farce.  The furniture is colorful and easily tips, another plus.  The only flaw is the large mirror on the stage left wall which is very distracting.  Oz Weaver’s lighting is good except for the last two scenes, which doesn’t make sense.  As the actors leave they turn out the lights, but the stage lights immediately sneak up again to light the final scene.  The costumes by Cindy Wiebe are fine and Suzette’s onstage change is very clever.  The exception is Jacqueline’s very unflattering nightgown and odd slippers.  Also, someone should remind Jacqueline and Suzette to make up their tan lines.

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