THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250027
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, THEATER CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
MOLIERE in the mall?
This is possibly a first in the history of theater. But why not? Those French! They're everywhere with their sly winks at love and all its foibles.
``The Miser,'' Moliere's mischievous romp, may date back to 1668 and is loosely based on a work by the Roman comic dramatist Plautus, but it's nonetheless the quintessential modern generation-gap comedy.
Boy falls in love with girl only to find out that his tightwad, elderly dad also has marital ambitions aimed her way. The servants run wild, scheming and stealing the carefully guarded money of the miserly father.
The Actors' Theater, housed near Sears in Pembroke Mall, has made its most audacious, challenging programming choice in undertaking the theatrical writings of Jean Baptiste Poquelin, the French dramatist who used the name Moliere. He is one of the greatest of all comedic writers. Of his 33 plays, ``The Miser'' is one of the more universal because, after all, tightwads are always in style.
Nonetheless, the performance of Moliere requires the most careful discipline. This playwright aimed for laughs but he gave depth to traditional comic roles by striving to maintain serious emotions.
Happily, the present production captures much of the intended fun and even a good deal of the underlying pathos under the direction of Bruce K. Hanson.
This version, produced by Joe Sasso, ups the ante even further by attempting period staging rather than hiding in the vulgarism of modern adaptation. The setting, while sparse, is effective.
The costumes, designed by Edward Anderson, are stunning.
David Frisinger is a serviceable but somewhat restrained Harpagon, the miser himself. Here is a rare occasion when overacting would have been allowable. Frisinger is tentative - suggesting more of the pathos than ordinary for this sad old fool. It is an allowable choice.
Of the uniformly commendable cast, the standout is Carin Cowell as the conniving matchmaker who hopes to turn a tidy profit from her meddling. Cowell contributes a fine comedic style.
Constance Armagno-Murray is a beautiful Mariane, the young woman who is at the center of much of the bargaining. Arthur E. Fichter IV, who could double for actor Charlie Sheen, adds a wry, mischievous air to his outing as Valere, the servant who is having an affair with Harpagon's daughter, played with an aristocratic touch by Sandra Holcombe.
Ethan Martin is effectively vulnerable and perplexed amid the plotting. Of the servants and schemers, Robert W. O'Leary steals every scene, proving that outrageous histrionics are quite appropriate in this case. Jason Stiles and Clifford Hoffman are particularly disciplined.
This is a fun evening, undemanding and very enjoyable. ILLUSTRATION: THEATER REVIEW
What: ``The Miser,'' the comedy by Moliere
Where: The Actors' Theater at Pembroke Mall, Virginia Beach
When: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.,
through May 5.
Tickets: $10 ($8 for students, seniors and military; $5 for
children)
Call: 557-0397
by CNB