The Ritz
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Summary
Cititour.com Review
From the words of a dying man, "Get Proclo," to a case of mistaken identity in a gay bath house circa 1975, the Roundabout's revival of Terrence McNally's tip of the hat to French sex farce "The Ritz" is more than just a frothy bit of amusement. It’s a belly laugh full of fun.
Despite the fact that director Joe Mantello has toned down the actual physical running to range from a slight scamper to slow trot, none of the laughs are lost in this delightful old fashioned romp.
Heading up the cast is Rosie Perez as Googie Gomez the bathhouse singer of questionable talent. The original show (which was later made into a movie) starred Rita Moreno (Tony and Drama Desk Award). A character written expressly for her, Moreno became so identified with the outrageous Gomez that she took her on the road. This makes for tough shoes to fill for Rosie Perez and try as she might, she fails to project the inner warmth that made the character such a beloved goofball. She just seems to be trying too hard to make it all fit.
Kevin Chamberlin takes on Proclo, the part originated by Jack Weston. He plays the guy, petrified that his brother-in-law has tracked him down in order to kill him, with a low-key sensibility who seems less concerned about getting murdered than discovering the unusual goings on at the bathhouse in which he’s hiding. By underplaying the fear, Chamberlin, misses his mark.
But the play is solidly constructed and the supporting cast is playing every moment with a party atmosphere oozing joy throughout. Brooks Ashmanskas, as the flaming Chris, offers a comic tour de force. Patrick Kerr, as the man with the fat fetish, raises a stereotype to humanity. Ashlie Atkinson, as the wife of the intended victim, gets in plenty of zingers, and the team of Tiger and Duff, sweetly played by Lucas Near-Verbrugghe and David Turner offers a nice balance.
For all of its political incorrectness, "The Ritz" is of a time and place when freedom had a different meaning. But funny is funny no matter what the decade and "The Ritz" is an out and out howl.
By Lesley Alexander
Visit the Site
http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/index.html
Cast
Brooks Ashmanskas, Caroline Aaron, Patrick Kerr, Lucas Near-Verbrugghe, Terrence Riordan, Seth Rudetsky, Adam Siet, David Turner, Lenny Venito, Ryan Idol, Teddy Coluca, Billy Magnussen, Mark Leydorf, Matthew Montelongo, Angela Pietropinto, Jeffrey Evan Thomas, Josh Breckenridge, Justin Clynes, Andrew Cooksey, Lukas Hassel, Nick Mayo, Dillon Porter
Open/Close Dates
Opening 9/15/2007
Closing 12/2/2007
Box Office
(212) 719-1300
Theatre Info
Studio 54
254 West 54th Street
New York, NY 10019
Map
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