A strong hooker of a bromo-seltzer
Company of Fools stages The Philadelphia Story
By HANS IBOLD
Express Staff Writer
Of the 1939 Broadway production of Phillip Barrys The
Philadelphia Story, a Philadelphia Daily News critic had this to say on the day
after it opened: "In addition to the sprightly and nippy writing, which sets it off
as a modern literary effort of no little merit, it is merrily, moonily unconventional and
behaves like a strong hooker of bromo-seltzer. The result is that [Barry] makes more
direct hits with innuendo and subtlety than the others could with a self-aiming
shotgun."
While the critics words seem dated, Barrys are not. His play
about a high society wedding gone awry is an enduring comedy with meaning.
To open its fourth season, Company of Fools presents The Philadelphia
Story at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. The play opens Thursday night with a
discounted preview. The run continues through March 5 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m.
The story finds Tracy Lord (Denise Simone), haughty and spoiled heiress
daughter to ultra-wealthy Philadelphia parents, ensnared in what the press has been
trumping up as "the wedding of the century." Tracy is supposed to marry George
Kittredge (Colter Hodge), a stodgy but dependable type who she sees as an antidote to her
charismatic and philandering ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Rusty Wilson). Two tabloid
reporters go undercover to capture the wedding. Tracy, the Lord family, Kittredge, Haven
and the reporters all collide at the Lords opulent Philadephia estate. The question
is, who, if anybody, will end up at the altar?
The Philadelphia Story has all the makings of a screwball comedy.
While it is that, it also attempts to do much more.
"It makes us care about people," said Wilson, who is also
Company of Fools artistic director. "It explores what it means to be human, what it
means to be tolerant and forgiving."
"One of the key ideas behind of Company of Fools is to open audiences
up with laughter," he added. "Laughter allows the players and the audience to
receive the meat of the play."
The meat of the play is about "the human heart in conflict with
itself," a Company of Fools mantra that was repeated by Washington, D.C.-based
director John Glenn.
"Especially for Tracy, who we can all identify with," Glenn
added.
Barry wrote the part of Tracy specifically for Katherine Hepburn, who
played the role for two years on the stage.
The 1940 film adaptation was a box office success and received six Academy
Award nominations, including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and
Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Jimmy Stewart won the Academy Award for
Best Actor.
During rehearsals last week, Simone was practically swooning over
Barrys dialogue.
"The language is delicious," she said. "Its sumptuous
and luscious, like a desert."
In addition to Simone, Wilson and Hodge, the cast features Joel Valinsky
as Mike Conner, Scarlet Caldwell as Dinah and Courtney Lloyd as Liz Imbrie. Other cast
members include Mike Craig, Gene Dallago, Danielle Kennedy, Chad Smith, Sheila Summers,
Dan Summers and Marilyn Teitge.
For this Friday nights performance, the cast will make something
spectacular happen. After the curtain closes, the wedding will continue at a lavish
reception held at the Mint in Hailey. Everyone from the Lord estate will be in attendance,
including the Lords, Haven, Dinah, Kittredge and lots of reporters.
The play is appropriate for ages 9 and up. Tickets are $15 for general
admission and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets for the discounted preview tomorrow
night are $10. The Friday performance and gala are $45 each or $80 for a couple. Tickets
are available at Read All About It in Hailey and at Chapter One in Ketchum. For more
information, call 788-6520.