PERFECT ARRANGEMENT – Written by Topher Payne; Directed by Troy Lakey. Produced by Firehouse Theater Company (7653 East 1st Place, Denver – in Lowry) through May 4th. Tickets available at 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com.
Topher Payne is gaining quite a reputation in Colorado theatre circles. His play YOU ENJOY MYSELF was recently done in Boulder; now a second play has graced the stage at Firehouse. I have heard a rumor that there may be another of his works unveiled in the near future. Good on you, Mr. Payne. It’s a well-deserved splash as his plays are both funny and insightful. His stated philosophy is that he likes to lead with comedy and then drop in the message after he hooks the audience with humor.
Which is exactly what he does in PERFECT ARRANGEMENT. We learn early on that even the most seemingly “perfect” solution will have cracks and need flexibility to handle the inevitable burps. In this case, two gay men and two gay women have supposedly solved their problem of required secrecy of their lovestyle in the wake of the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s. They have adjoining apartments with a walk-through closet allowing them to appear as two “normal” married couples. But in the evening, when any potential snoops will have gone to bed, so do the friends – the women in one apartment; the men in the other. Even under these circumstances, they often have to watch for unexpected visitors and come up with off-the-cuff explanations of why someone is in the “wrong” apartment. Hence, the humor.
This works only because all four people involved are committed to making it work and quick-witted enough to cover their tracks. However, when put to the test, the cracks begin to show. Millie (a cunning Miranda Byers) and Norma (Katie Medved in her first time at Firehouse) would love to have a more routine existence – maybe even a child. Bob (Andrew Uhlenhopp ) and Jim (Matthew Combs) are content with the current arrangement. But then Bob, who works in McCarthy’s office, is ordered to start investigating the “deviants” (read gay folk) in the government offices. He who thought he had everything under control soon realizes he has about as much control as a ten-year-old girdle. Andrew creates a fully developed character with cockiness and control issues. He is balanced with the slightly younger, fun-loving Matthew, who goes along to get along. Jim finally finds enough gumption to make an important decision on his own.
Matt Hindmarch is a clueless boss to Bob and Norma who still manages to mess up their lives. His wife Kitty, played by the always delightful Johanna Jaquith, provides a great deal of the comic relief with her ditsy ways. You soon learn however that there are deeper emotions to be found in this lonely woman. Completing the cast is Kelly Uhlenhopp as the office bombshell sexpot who hides her own secret under a cloak of sexuality. Kelly is the kind of actress who walks into a room and owns it – a trait that works very well for her always-on-the-prowl Barbara.
It’s hard to equate how comic this script can be while still dealing with heartbreaking issues of acceptance. There are scenes that make you laugh out loud juxtaposed with scenes capable of moving you to tears. That Mr. Payne really knows how to write a touching story and these actors bring it to meaningful life. Director Troy Lakey has found the right people for the job and then created the environment in which the story could be told with grace and understanding.
As always, the tiny tech crew at Firehouse pulled another gorgeous set out of their imagination. Designed, built, and painted by Jeff Jesmer and Megan Davis, then dressed by Samatha Piel, it provides a charming place to play. Rachel Herring-Luna gave all the characters outstanding and truly 50s-looking clothes to wear. I remember those dresses.
This is one of those plays that will sneak up on unsuspecting watchers and, despite having a good time, you walk away having learned something new. More take-away than a Burger King!!
A WOW factor of 8.75!!