2005 Year in Review

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Steve Martin's Underpants

What happens when a simple German housewife drops her bloomers during the King’s parade? Her proper husband thinks it’s the end of his career and their mediocre life. He’s right about one thing nothing will be ordinary again. Strange men start showing up on their doorstep, unbeknownst to him, they are enthralled with his simply dressed but beautiful wife.

First there’s the Italian poet who wants to make Louise his muse, then the Jewish barber there to protect her from the poet. Her husband, of one year, has been inattentive to her needs and she loves the attention.

The audience continued to laugh at this funny play throughout the two fast moving acts. Even though this play is set at the turn of the century, the humor is very modern yet sophomoric. If you think the line “how do you want your wiener fixed” is funny you’ll laugh at all the jokes.

Funny man Steve Martin wrote this slapstick comedy. Although I was expecting it to be sillier like other farces I’ve seen, the comedy was more believable. The inappropriate lines, delivered especially by the upstairs neighbor Gertrude, played by Erin Anderson are really funny.

I also enjoyed the argument between the poet (Matthew Callahan) and the husband (Clay Sanderson). Theo (Louise’s husband) is a Neanderthal who believes only men should have affairs, “it’s in the New Testament”. “Yes,” retorts Ben the barber, “in the book of Saint….Louis”. He doesn’t believe in the arts and has never read a book, ”imagination rots reality”. The poet lives for love and romance and that’s exactly what Louise wants, but does she get what she wants?

This is the most complicated and beautiful set they’ve made this season. An above modest apartment with a carved wooden fireplace and hardwood floors gave a real homey feel to the stage.

We were on the road before 10:00, which makes this the shortest play this season. I think most people will enjoy this comedy and judging on the crowds on opening night the seats will be full. Get your tickets purchased right away, any seat is a good seat for this play.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
July 15, 2005