Send mail to us at:
POB 114
New Smyrna Beach, FL
32170-0114

or Email us:
Click Here

    

The Little Theatre

  
         


If you'd like to make a tax-deductible contribution to
the Little Theatre, please click here


    

photos courtesy of The Observer
Cast of Don't Dress for Dinner
Theater Review
Don't Dress For Dinner
BY SANDI CARROLL
Community Editor, The Observer

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, May 15, 2001 - Don't waste any time getting your tickets to see the hilarious French farce, "Don't Dress for Dinner." It was a huge hit with the opening night audience at the Little Theatre last weekend.This comedy by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon, is about Bernard, played by Bill Roehrborn, who plans to entertain his gorgeous Parisian model/mistress Suzanne, played by Krista Laraine Dresser, while his wife Jacqueline, played by Tess Siconolfi, is away for the weekend.

Roehrborn, a past president and current technical director at the LT, does a terrific job as Bernard, who finds himself in quite a predicament in the course of a day.Bernard has hired Suzette, a cordon bleu cook, played by Brianne M. Higgins, to prepare a gourmet dinner for Suzanne's birthday, and invites his best friend Robert, played by Daniel Blazi, to provide an alibi for him without telling Robert what is going on. What Bernard doesn't know is that Robert is his wife's secret lover, so when Jacqueline discovers that Robert is coming, she cancels her trip.Frantic, Bernard tries to convince Robert to pretend the model is his mistress.

After much arguing Robert reluctantly agrees, but unfortunately he mistakes Suzette for Suzanne. So the cook "becomes" the model and the model, who can't cook, ends up trying to prepare the dinner, which turns out to be a disaster. This is a wonderfully funny production and these talented actors do a superb job. Tess Siconolfi, a versatile performer, is wonderful as Jacqueline, who becomes incensed and outraged that her lover has a "mistress."

Then when she finds a note from Bernard's mistress in his coat pocket, she is so upset that she tells Bernard that she too has a lover. Daniel Blazi is a hoot as the best friend, Robert, who is put in an impossible situation by Bernard. The two men fight, and then they make up outrageous lies to keep Jacqueline from discovering the truth.

Blazi has a wonderfully expressive face and keeps the audience in stitches. The situation has him "hitting the bottle," and with a little help from the alcohol he actually starts to have fun with Suzette.Brianne Higgins steals the show. She is incredibly funny as the mercenary cordon bleu cook, who ends up pretending to be Robert's mistress (for a price), then his niece (for a price), and to keep quiet about what she knows (for a price). She "receives" a luxurious coat from her "lover" and actually starts to enjoy all the role-playing.Krista Laraine Dresser is perfect as Suzanne the "real" model/mistress, who is not at all happy at having to pretend to be the cook, or to see her expensive coat being worn by another woman. She has the accent and the attitude down to a "T."

When George, Suzette's husband, played by Ken Guilbeault, shows up to pick her up, things get even more complicated and hilarious. He is perfect as the jealous husband, whose wife calls him "Flower."

Dottie Hughes is the director of this lively, fast-paced play. She has done a wonderful job working with this extremely talented cast to present a professional, quality production. Hal Linn is stage manager. Bill Roehrborn is the technical director and Mary Monnier is set decorator. Camille Dickinson handles props, costumes by Rose Dingas, and lights and sound by Diane Christian.
     


Copyright © 2001 the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, Inc.