Under a new management team, Seven Angels Theatre is opening their 36th season with a rarely-produced revival of Lucky Stiff. Why this seriously stupid 1988 off-Broadway musical, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty (who would eventually team on far better musicals like Once on this Island and Ragtime), would be revived is for the muses to wonder. Seven Angels’ new team of Artistic Director Constantine Pappas and Managing Director Craig David Rosen apparently saw something in Lucky Stiff that I did not.
Based on Michael Butterworth’s 1983 novel, The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, Lucky Stiff introduces lonely English shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon (Constantine Pappas) who is summoned to take his deceased uncle Tony’s embalmed body (Rick Fountain) to Monte Carlo in order to inherit a 6 million dollar fortune. Hot on his heels is Annabel Glick (Molly Model, wonderful) who represents a dog rescue organization that will get the inheritance if Harry fails. Nefarious siblings Vinnie (Paul Rescigno) and his legally blind sister Rita (Savannah Stevenson) are also in pursuit which has something to do with Rita’s missing diamonds and her accidental shooting of Tony. The Weekend at Bernie’s premise, under Robert Mintz’s frantic direction, involves lots of busy actors killing themselves to make the material funny, which ultimately results in diminishing returns.
Artistic Director Pappas has given himself the key role of straight guy amidst the madness and he plays it with great charm and charisma. Even better is Model who brings a warm and quirky enthusiasm to the role of Annabel. The score is mostly unmemorable, but Model shines with a sweet and funny ballad about her love of dogs, “Times Like This.” I also have to credit Mr. Fountain, who plays the dead man with surprising verisimilitude. And he has one really great moment when he springs to life to execute a quick tap dance. The rest of the small company are put through their paces with performances seemingly cranked up to 11. You can see the actors sweat as familiar jokes about New Jersey die on the vine. Mintz wisely moves the production along as fast as he can, hoping you won’t catch on that there just isn’t much there.
Music Director Aaron Benham does a great job with his small pit band, but scenic designer Thomas D. Gordon’s spare settings, which include four shaky door units, and Sam Terrell’s sporadic lighting design don’t distinguish themselves here. If you’re in the mood for some undemanding and silly stuff, however, Lucky Stiff may still give you a chuckle or two.
Lucky Stiff continues at the Seven Angels Theatre, 1 Plank Road, Waterbury, Connecticut through October 12. For further information or ticket reservations call the theatre box office at: (203) 757-4676 or visit: www.sevenangelstheatre.org.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
