Play good even with time constraints
(No Way to Treat a Lady review from The Owl, Doane Paper)
Working under pressure and putting an entire production together in only four weeks, the cast members of "No Way to Treat a Lady" gave the small preview audience a performance to remember.
The play takes place in New York City. And out-of-work actor goes on a killing rampage to get his name on the front page of The New York Times. Detective Morris Brummel is on the job to solve the murder mystery when he meets and falls in love with Sarah Stone.
Freshman Sam Hartley plays Brummel, a middled aged Jewish detective from Brooklyn who lives with his mother. Hartley is both awkward and charming the first time he meets Sarah Stone.
Sophomore Jennifer Kater takes on various roles in the production. Kater really plays up the humor of her characters, but not to the pint that it is annoying. She performs with a great balance between slapstick and verbal humor.
There are moments in the play that Freshman Zach Kloppenborg took his character over the top. Kloppenborg plays the out-of-work actor, Kit Gill, who goes on a killing rampage. Although he does take his character over the top it follows the progression of the play as Gill becomes more insane.
The play is a comedy, but moments between Brummel and Stone take the production to a different level. It allows the audience to care for the characters.
Overall the singing is good. Some technical difficulties detract from the quality and sound. Sometimes the music overpowered the voices which made it hard to hear the words.
The most honest scene in the show is during the second act. Stone, played by freshman Leslie Schroder, sings a love song to Brummel. The chemistry between the two actors is perfect during this scene.
The last scene of the first act is very effective. It sets the audience up to care about the characters. The intermission will make you want to know what is coming next.
With only four weeks to prepare the play the cast and crew did an amazing job. Everyone on campus should see this play. It has everything you are looking for in a play- music, dance, murder, and love