The Liar
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Cititour.com Review
Given today’s political climate, you might think Classic Stage Company’s new production, “The Liar,” is an expose of Washington’s politics. But non! Instead, that master wordsmith David Ives has once more translated and transmutated a French comedy – here a 17th-century trifle by Pierre Corneille – using perfect pentameter (rhymed verse), creating a sweet yet tart soufflé, expertly prepared by director Michael Kahn and served up by a talented cast.
The plot, like many works of the period, is full of mistaken identities, unknown siblings, and clandestine love affairs. Most of all, though, there are lies, lies, lies – primarily sprouted by Dorante (a delicious Christian Conn), a country lawyer just arrived in Paris. Upon his arrival, he encounters the always-truthful Cliton (the wonderful Carson Elrod, always in his element in these works), who quickly becomes Dorante’s faithful valet – and who learns a little too late just how faithless his master is.
What follows is a lot of silliness involving Dorante’s old friends, Alcippe (Tony Roach) and Philiste (Aubrey Deever); Alcippe’s long-intended bride Clarice (a properly headstrong Ismenia Mendes), whom Durante instantly covets; Clarice’s seemingly meek cousin Lucrese (a fine Amelia Budrow); and the ladies’ servants, identical twins Isabelle and Sabine (both played to hilarious perfection by Kelly Hutchison), whose personalities are literally as different as night and day.
Adding just a touch of gravity to the proceedings is Dorante’s father, Geronte (a truly touching Adam LeFevre), who comes to Paris to arrange Dorante’s marriage. Unsurprisingly, Dorante proves to be his own worst enemy when it comes to acceding to his father’s wishes, and when Geronte discovers his son’s propensity for telling extravagant fibs, the parent-child relationship is almost severed permanently.
As is often true at CSC, the set design (here by Alexander Dodge) is quite minimal, meaning audiences, for better and worse, must really focus on the words being said. (The play is essentially a two-hour talkfest!) Murell Horton’s period-appropriate costumes do their job well (but one has to wonder why no one ever changes their clothes!)
By the way, Ives doesn’t entirely let politicians or lawyers off the hook (there are a couple of smartly-timed jabs at these professions), but “The Liar” is far less interested in making us think than it is in making us laugh.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.classicstage.org/season/the-liar
Cast
Christian Conn, Aubrey Deeker, Carson Elrod, Kelly Hutchinson, Adam Lefevre, Ismenia Mendes, Amelia Pedlow, Tony Roach
Open/Close Dates
Opening 1/11/2017
Closing 2/26/2017
Box Office
866-811-4111
Theatre Info
CSC
136 East 13th Street
New York, NY 10003
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