|
The Receptionist by Cygnet Theatre Company  It’s just your typical reception area in an ordinary small
business. Sean Fanning’s perfectly realistic set leaves no doubt about
it. We’ve all seen that same office and flooring and desk a hundred times, the
desk adorned with standard office supplies sprinkled with a few personal items
from the receptionist. If you still have any doubts as to just how ordinary it
all is, just listen to the receptionist fielding her calls, friendly and
efficient on the phone, but with amusing expressions and body language unseen
by the callers but seen by her coworker who is eager for some girl-talk about
her ex-boyfriend. Both the receptionist and the coworker equally eager to hang
around and flirt with the handsome stranger who pops in to see their boss. In fact,
the stranger is politely determined to wait for their boss. A government type.
Very polite but…somehow disconcerting.This is Adam Bock’s The Receptionist, now enjoying its West Coast premiere with Cygnet Theatre Company. A mix of entertaining office comedy with a dark, post-9/11 underbelly. The strong cast of four keeps things light and edgy. As the receptionist’s boss, Edward Raymond, Dale Morris kicks it off with an opening monologue in what appears to be some sort of interview as he reminisces with us (or the unseen person he’s speaking to) with easy familiarity about fishing and mercy, before that easygoing character finds his world begin to crumble. Quickly. Sean Cox is a good mixture of charm and mystery for the character of Martin Dart who has some business with Edward Raymond. Jo Anne Glover makes the character of the flirty, gossipy coworker Lorraine into a very real person with a great sense of humor, a sad lack of self-esteem, and a grave concern for Edward and the looming crisis. And then there’s Melinda Gilb as the title character. Melinda is dead on, adding reams of great, natural comic timing and hilarious little nuances as the middle-aged Beverly Wilkins who runs her reception area with precision – expertly placing phone calls into voicemail no matter how annoying the caller may be, keeping tight watch on her disappearing pens, socializing well with whoever comes through the door, and blissfully secure in her belief that all well go right in the end. After all, this is America, and she works in such a nice, ordinary office. Sean Murray directs this short, little 80-minute piece. Besides his strong cast, as usual he’s assembled several great designers to help him deliver another winner for Cygnet. Besides Sean Fanning’s set, Eric Lotze creates some very office-like lighting effects, and George Ye does the sound, which ends with a little Que Sera, Sera from the Hitchcock thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much – and some good theme music for the laissez-faire sentiment among voters that can allow such problems.Performs through August 31, 2008.
~ Cast ~
Edward Raymond: Dale Morris Bevely Wilkins: Melinda Gilb Lorraine Taylor: Jo Anne Glover Martin Dart: Sean Cox Director: Sean Murray Stage Manager: Rosalee Barrientos Lighting Design: Eric Lotze Scenic Design: Sean Fanning Sound Design: George Ye Properties Design: Bonnie L. Durben Costume Design: Jeanne Reith Wigs & Hair Design: Peter Herman |