Players in tune with "Tenor"

At first I felt bad laughing so loudly.
Then I realized everyone else was laughing even louder than I was.
Friday night, the Four County Players opened their hilarious “Lend Me a Tenor,” a story of hopes, dreams and the all-important mistaken identity. Of course, nothing goes as planned, but the fact that it doesn’t only means things ultimately will work out in the end, right? After all, nothing easy could be this fun.
Ken Waller directs a small cast of fabulous local talent in Ken Ludwig’s story of world-famous tenor Tito Morelli’s much-anticipated debut at the Cleveland Grand Opera. The players weave on and off stage through a series of comical mishaps and well-hinged doors at a pace that guarantees the audience will never get bored with the action or misadventure. Every time a door opens or closes, comedy follows.
Our story is set in a hotel suite in Cleveland, Ohio in 1934. Mr. Saunders, the company’s general manager, believes he’s put the Cleveland Opera Company on the map by luring the world-famous Il Stupendo (Morelli) to perform in Cleveland.
Morelli has a big personality and a big heart—if not a big brain. He’s prone to excess—women, food—and finds himself ill Stupendo and unable to rehearse before the big show.
Meanwhile, Saunders’ dreamy-eyed daughter Maggie is infatuated with the hearty Italian and eschews the steady, if unspectacular, Max in favor of the star.
Saunders leaves Max with Morelli and his wife, with instructions to help the popular tenor relax so he can perform later that evening.
Naturally, things go awry as Morelli and his wife fight, he encourages the aspiring Max through singing lessons and overdoses on tranquilizers and wine as he finds out his wife has left him. Ah, the life of a star.
Believing Morelli is dead, Saunders persuades Max to get into Morelli’s Othello costume to fool the audience into thinking he’s Il Stupendo. Dubious, Max earns a much-needed shot of confidence from the blissfully unaware—and swooning—Maggie. After all, the show must go on.
Max pulls off the ultimate theatrical performance, but Morelli awakens from his stupor still thinking he needs to perform.
Now, two Othellos are running around in costume and two women are running around in lingerie, each thinking she is with Il Stupendo!
Well, one door opens, another closes. Literally and figuratively.
Chuck Beretz goes from hangdog to big dog first as Max and then as the Il Stupendo imposter. As Max, he’s serious and sincere, but unable to sweep the delightful Maggie off her feet. As Il Stupendo’s stand-in, he’s confident and secure and suddenly, much more attractive to Maggie. Beretz does a wonderful job of interacting and/or avoiding all the characters in the play and is the unlikely hero we’re all rooting for.
Bob Davis is wonderfully charming as the slightly dimwitted but well-meaning Morelli. He’s at his best running around in his Othello outfit unaware of an imposter dressed similarly. He often sports a wonderful bemused look that’s amusing in and of itself.
The two “tenors” never quite run into each other, but the audience is treated to a side-by-side view of the two—even as they are unaware of the proximity of the other.
Doug Schneider is fabulous as the ill-tempered, foul-mouthed Saunders. He spends much of the evening so angry his head looks like it might explode. But it’s funny. He does angry very well.
Sunshine Manderbach is simply stunning as Maggie with her goo-goo eyes for the famous tenor. If only she would look that way at Max! Or does she? Either way, it’s hard not to notice her wherever she is on stage.
Kate Lambert and Linda Waller are wonderful as the true Morelli’s love interests. Waller portrays his wife Maria and has perhaps the best Italian accent of any in the cast. Lambert and Davis share one of the funniest scenes of the evening when it’s clear to everyone but Morelli what she’s talking about.
Mary Beth Wiley plays Julia—chair of the opera board—and shamelessly woos the popular tenor.
Gary White is the hotel bellhop and one of Il Stupendo’s biggest fans.
Four County Players delivers another delightful performance in the intimate Barboursville Community Theater where the audience essentially feels like it’s part of the show.
“Lend Me a Tenor” continues through May 25. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, $10 for senior citizens and students, and $8 for children. All Friday night tickets are only $5 each.
For more information and tickets, call the Four County Players box office at 540-832-5355 or check the website at www.fourcp.org.