AlmaguinNews.com - Andres brings home the laughs in Love, Sex and the IRS

BURK’S FALLS: The Highland Players had their audience in stitches as soon as the lights came up on last weekend’s production of Love, Sex and the IRS at the Land of Lakes theatre.

The slightly naughty farce by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore relies heavily on physical comedy, and Scott Andres playing the role of Leslie proved to be more than up to the challenge of the pratfalls and double takes required to keep the gags rolling along. Marianne Brandt, as Vivian, also displayed a talent for physical humour, as her character got tipsy on a bottle of Scotch and had some trouble controlling her behaviour.

Playing at being drunk is a difficult act to pull off and both Brandt and Luan Phinney as the landlady did an admirable job of it, taking a leaf from “lovable lush” actor Foster Brooks, who maintained the only way to play a realistic drunk was to play a drunk trying to pretend he was sober.

Andres’ energy levels were admirably sustained throughout the play, his performance, almost entirely in drag, key to the production’s success, while Peggy Prud’homme’s Kate started out a little weak, her character a bit fractured but gained strength by the middle of the first act to become a worthy partner for Andres’ antics. Alden Moore as Jon had some great lines, well delivered for comic effect, but his character lacked the edge and quick retort necessary to keep the comic timing succinct.

Comedy, especially farce of the frantic type, is far more difficult to pull off than drama. Lines and movements have to combine to keep the action tight, and Moore and Barry Hubbert as the IRS man Spinner struggled to keep the timing going. However, the entire cast is to be applauded for keeping in character at all times, with many of the off-centre- stage reactions and interactions adding to the laughs. Unfortunately, a kiss between Prud’homme and Andres at the end of the first act fell apart before Moore could make his entrance, leaving what should have been a hysterical scene-ender lying somewhat flat.

It was also unfortunate that Alden and Andres made their first appearances on stage wearing bright red lipstick, which distracted from Andres’ later move into drag. A few bits of dialogue also needed to be changed to facilitate casting and props. As Leslie,
Andre’s comment that Prud’homme’s Kate “is a foot shorter than I am” was just not true, and while “Scotch on the rocks” was being freely offered from the bar, there was no ice in sight.

The set design crew deserve mention for the clever window on the back flat that allowed the audience a clear view of Andres in drag as he tried to escape the apartment unseen; however, the stage left flat leading to the second floor needed reinforcement as it visibly shook during some of the frantic entrances and exits, distracting from the interaction on stage.

Love, Sex and the IRS is one in a series of plays by VanZandt and Milmore that the Highland Players have produced, and they are to be applauded for brining this type of comedy to the Burk’s Falls stage. As clearly shown by the audience’s participation, rollicking good fun makes for a great night of entertainment. The troupe and the community are truly lucky to have the Land of Lakes theatre as a venue. Its professional setup allows technical creativity, and the stage size gives greater blocking freedom than available in many other area buildings used for similar purposes.

The entire cast were clearly enjoying themselves on stage, perhaps the best secret to a successful performance. If you missed Love, Sex and the IRS, you missed a very entertaining evening.