Come to New Jersey to see The Philadelphia Story at The Village Playbox
by: Megan Guy
Set in the countryside near Philadelphia in late June 1939, The Philadelphia Story, directed by Steve Allen, assisted by John Blackwell, presents a charming take on the classic romantic comedy detailing the lives of the Lord family over the course of two days leading up to daughter Tracy Lord’s wedding day.
Under Allen's dual leadership in direction and set design, the well-constructed staging and period-appropriate furnishings effectively capture the sophisticated atmosphere of the Lord family estate. Mike Tursi, Bill Binder, and Anita Rowland constructed and designed a beautiful set - both settings were simple and elevated. I enjoyed seeing the eye-catching artwork on the walls and appreciated the use of vintage furniture and props—including realistic cigarette smoke—that bring the setting to life. Ashley Ponzetti’s work as stage manager was seamless, set changes were only done during intermissions so as not to distract throughout the show. Gary Kochey's lighting and sound design particularly shine during Act 2 on the porch, where light filtering through the window and the shadows of the characters portray the timeline from late evening to sunrise. Donna Allen designed the costumes which transported us back to 1939 - especially with some of Miss Imbrie’s couture looks.
Carolyn Beatty leads the cast as Tracy Lord, conveying the high-society poise and inner complexity expected of the “Virgin Goddess” role. Her acting was superb, particularly when drinking one too many sips of champagne. She is ably supported by Tim Kirk as her fiance George and Brian Balduzzi as her ex-husband Dexter, creating a funny dynamic. Balduzzi’s unmistakable voice had me hooked whenever he was on stage. Jonathan Wallace as Macaulay "Mike" Connor and Amanda Kochey as Liz Imbrie bring lively energy as the visiting press. Especially, with Kochey standing out in her stylish fashions as a presswoman. Their classy presence provided intrigue between the members of the Lord family. Carolyn’s dynamic onstage with all of her potential love interests was equally convincing.
Esme Altman played Dinah, the younger playful sister who provided a lot of comedic lines throughout the show. Tracy’s brother Sandy, played by John Eldis commanded the stage whenever he was present in the room, his acting stood out to me in particular. Tracy’s mother, Margaret, played by Judi Vitello was classy and provided her own Philly accent reminding me this was set in my hometown area. Stephen Kreal played Mr. Seth Lord, Tracy’s father, along with Richard Mooney, who played Uncle Willie. They worked so well together providing the audience with laughs when pretending to be the other. Other notable parts include Kelsey Ryan who was versatile playing three different roles (Thomas/Mac/Dr. Parsons) and Emily Mangiavillano (Elsie, the maid) round out the eccentric Lord household.
While some of the humor may go over the heads of younger audience members, the production ultimately delivers a thoughtful and cohesive portrayal of forgiveness, love, class and education dynamics, and personal growth. The Philadelphia Story will be playing at the village Playbox for the next two weekends. Be sure to get your tickets before November 21st at http://www.villageplaybox.org/tix/checkoutmainstage.htm
