THE GUILD THEATRE PRESENTS STEVE MARTIN’S ‘THE UNDERPANTS’

The Guild Theatre’s latest production is  a revival of Steve Martin’s play THE UNDERPANTS  which  premiered Off Broadway in  April 2002. Martin’s play is a loose adaptation of German playwright Carl Sternheim’s play Die Hose (1910).

As one would expect from Mr Wild and Crazy, the show is anarchic fun that  satirises middle class  manners and  behaviour.

Rachel Cliffe’s winning production was good natured and fast paced and featuring a capable cast. All the show’s technical  aspects ran smoothly.

Jim Searle’s impressive, detailed period set of the Maske’s living room featured three entry doors for the cast to come through as the farce gained momentum. Searle’s set was a pleasure to look at as were the bright costumes which the cast wore.

Phil Chaffey plays Theo Maske, an anxious middle class man who is ensconced in his position in the public service. Theo and his wife Louise attend a parade in their local town which features none other than the King, To his mortification his wife’s drawers fall down at the height of the parade, in front of friends, family and work colleagues. How will poor Theo ever be able to show his face to anyone again?! Chaffey nails the role of the sauerkraut Theo.

Natalija Karna gives a pleasing, charming performance as his much more temperate wife Louise.

Pauline Randall, a long time actress with the Guild, delivers a warm, lightly brushed performance as the prying though friendly neighbour Gertrude Deuter who establishes a firm friendship with Louise.

The effect of Louise’s unintentional  lapse in modesty sees locals take a interest in the rather uninteresting Maske family.

Theo and Louise are inundated with transparent local men coming to their front door wanting to rent their spare room which has been vacant for some time!

Current Guild Theatre President Bill Ayers as poet and romancer Frank Versati, handsome George Gleeson as the pale, sickly Benjamin Cohen, and Don Gethings in a nice comic turn as Klinglehoff who walks around with an aviator’s cap, play the three unlikely lads come to look at the room, in the hope of having a romantic tryst with Louise.

Adrian  Thompson is very kingly in his brief and dramatic appearance late in proceedings.

Recommended, Steve Martin’s THE UNDERPANTS is playing the Guild Theatre, Railway street, Rockdale until August 27.

http://www.guildtheatre.com.au