SARASOTA – Asolo Rep's, Born Yesterday, Garson Kanin's classic comedy about a showgirl's journey into Washington high society, opened Friday at the Mertz Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Along with The Great Society and The Originalist–which are playing in repertory rotation–the play caps what Asolo has called its Washington Trilogy. It also serves as the company's slightly whimsical mid-20th century comedy, a somewhat standard offering that the theater's fans always enjoy.
Junkyard magnate Harry Brock comes to Washington just after World War II, looking to stuff pockets in order to inspire deregulation in the scrap-iron industry. With a debauched former Assistant Attorney General in tow and a bought-and-paid for Senator in town, he is eager to make things happen.
However, as uncouth as the bully from Cleveland may himself be, he worries only that Billie Dawn, his girlfriend and unwitting business front-woman, isn't up to the task of running in elite circles. Harry hires Paul Verrall, a journalist for the National Review, to give her etiquette lessons. Alas, our Pygmalion is much smarter than she seems. Billie proves a quick study, and it's ultimately Harry who gets the biggest lesson to learn.
Christina DeCicco, Don Walker, Norm Boucher, and Eric Hissom.
Photo by Cliff Roles
The entire play (save one brief moment supposed as a dark city street) takes place in Harry's opulent hotel suite, and Robert Perdziola has created a magnificent set while also curating elegant and period-appropriate costumes.
Norm Boucher is magnificent as Harry–the sort of lout you almost have to root for–endowing him with equal parts bravado and buffoon to delightful comic effect. Christopher Kelly continues to prove himself as a tremendous asset to the company, again performing as a top-notch supporting actor in a measured and perfectly-understated performance as Verrall.
Ditto for Eric Hissom, a veteran character actor whose portrayal of Ed Devery, the always half and sometimes wholly in the bag attorney who serves as Harry's counsel. Hissom seems to slide easily and fully into every role he inhabits. Asolo favorite Don Walker also puts in a good turn as Norval Hedges, the senator Harry has in his pocket.
Christopher Kelly and Christina DeCicco. Photo by Cliff Roles
However, the star of the story is Billie Dawn and Chrstina DeCicco certainly comes through as the star of the production. DeCicco hits every note, and manages to take a role that could come off as pouty and petulant and instead creates an endearing ditz who wins the audience as she proves her mettle.
It is noteworthy how often the graft-ridden play draws laughs of irony, as audience members recognize a mid-1940's Washington as being none too distant from today's. There are also obvious comparisons to a second-rate tycoon, lacking the sophistication of those he lords over, while trying to use his money to deregulate any rule that pads his bottom line.
Born Yesterday is a great slice of political comedy that may have been satire in its day, but plays like smart sketch comedy in 2017. It runs through April 15. Visit the Asolo website for schedule and ticket information.
Dennis
Maley a featured columnist and editor for The Bradenton Times. He is the author of the novel, A Long
Road Home, and the brand new short story collection, Casting Shadows,
which can be ordered in paperback here, or in the Amazon Kindle store here.
Comments
No comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.