"What Happened in Boston, Willie"

Reviews of Current Productions

"Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet"

Reviewed by Pat Campbell

Went to the Footlight Club last night with reservations about this production, based on the review in the 'Mirror' and stories of production problems with the show. I went home after a thoroughly enjoyable night, enchanted by a wonderful and witty script (not having overdosed recently on sent-up Shakespeare) and impressed with the ease with which the cast handled the Shakespeare, actual and augmented, farce and the fighting scenes, which were some of the most rough-and-tumble I've seen.

The show featured the usual incomparable mastery of Anna Brown as Chorus and other characters (her Yorick, spouting Shakespearian Marx brothers was hilarious), the wonderfully conflicted and frenetic Peri Chouteau in the lead as Constance Leadbelly, and a wonderful supporting cast with (for me) stand-outs Kaili Turner and Eric Propp (who, as Iago, has one of the best voices I've heard on the FLC stage).

As usual, there is a story behind the production which may explain a certain roughness in the opening weekend. The actess originally cast as Constance fell very ill just a week and a half before opening night. Ms Chouteau stepped in, and a combination of her own considerable skills and a small earpiece that a backstage prompter could use to feed her lines kept the show open. A true 'the-show-must-go-on' story! By last night, there was no earpiece, only energy and expertise.

The show deserves to be seen by an audience looking for a night of laughter and there is only tonight left. Go to the Footlight Club and welcome in the Summer with pseudo Shakespeare and silliness. I think he'd approve.

"Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet" (3-18 June)

THE FOOTLIGHT CLUB

Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot Street, JAMAICA PLAIN, MA

1 (617) 524-3200