Good elements aligned to make Drayton Entertainment’s Lend Me a Tenor a wonderful evening at the theatre.
Among them was a glorious fall evening, a beautiful, spacious new theatre and foremost, a jovial performance wherein every player was “the best one.”
A farce by Ken Ludwig, the play recounts a 1930s Cleveland evening at the Grand Opera that has a famous tenor and his “people” in a grand tizzy.
“Tito” the Tenor has overindulged both by greed and by mishap and is unable to get himself and his voice on stage for the impending performance of “Otello.”
The show must go on, and between consorts and fans his hotel room becomes a hotbed of sweat, mistaken identity, desperation and deceit. All of it is funny and the audience is unreserved in their appreciation (belly laughs).
Gerry Mendicino plays the Italian tenor with all of the flamboyance, loving spirit and exaggerated gestures that one could hope for in a character of passion.
The same can be said for his diva wife Maria, played in grandiose style by Susan Johnston Collins. Her lusty threats to turn Tito into a soprano are not taken with a grain of salt.
Darren Keay plays Max, a humble assistant whose secret talent as a tenor is conscripted even as Tito emerges from his stupor.
He steps into the role and voice while retaining his endearing demeanour.
Victor A. Young plays the part of the impresario, with a mosaic of declining grandeur as the farce evolves. He has been a fantastic compliment to Drayton Entertainment this season, most recently in Spamalot.
Each time Thomas Alderson, as the bellhop, so much as appears on stage, he is met with laughter and expectation as his flexible antics and enthusiastic aspirations are appreciated.
Jayme Armstrong plays dumb well as “Maggie,” star struck and silly. She was the delightful Mary in Mary Poppins this season.
Valerie Boyle has “Chairman of the Opera Guild” written all over her and is superb in her portrayal of an overly-dramatic and keen patron of the arts.
Sarah Cornell plays Diana, a statuesque redhead who dominates the stage with her alluring presence. She plays an aspiring soprano whose goals are unchecked in her Drayton Entertainment debut.
It is not surprising that Alex Mustakas is the director of Lend Me a Tenor. His ability to glean and extract character is as unmatched as his timing sense.
An extra treat at the end of the production is an accelerated run-through synopsis that was unique and brilliant.
Costume designer Jessica Bray has most notably revived the “blackface” theme of that time period for the Othello role that has two players costumed indiscernibly, creating calamity and other kiss-and-telltale black faces.
David Antscherl sets the stage with an in instantly recognizable upscale hotel room that has all the bells, whistles and doors required on the generous new space.
Lend Me a Tenor plays eight shows a week, only through to Oct.12.
Tickets can be purchased online at dunfieldtheatrecambridge.com, at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge box office or by calling 519-621-8000 or toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
