Simple Production =More Laughs and Entertainment
A delightful revival of Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor opened last night in the Auditorium of University Heights Center, produced by Penguin Productions, a teen theatre group, who last performed at the Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival in Volunteer Park. The Good Doctor refers to the influential Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, M.D. as he experiences writers block and muses on the short stories he has written. In two acts, ten of Chekhov’s short stores are acted out, some narrated by Chekhov himself. This crew of five teenagers captured all the understated irony as well as the entrenched tragedy in fin de siècle Russia.
Although ¾ in the round setting was perhaps not the best use of the space, a lot of credit goes to director Tera Winter. The actor’s comic timing was dead right, so that the audience was amused but the seriousness of the script came through. Winter has just the right directorial touch.
As Chekhov, Emmett Driscoll actually looked like Chekhov, and delivered his lines with assurance as he spoke to the audience about his writers block and mused about his published writing.
Caden Elliott played many roles but demonstrated a huge amount of low-key humor as a calculating seducer of married women. His comic timing was just as brilliant, as a bumbling young Chekhov about to lose his virginity.
Claire Stoss as an underpaid governess brought out all the class conflicts which lead to the 1917 Russian Revolution. Caspian Collier was brilliant in her various roles but particularly as a reluctant dental patient.
All in all it was an excellent production and demonstrated that good acting, directing and a good script are all you need to entertain and enlighten. Penguin Productions has been touring nursing homes and there is only one more performance for the public: Sunday Nov. 5 Get your tickets NOW!
The Good Doctor. Penguin Productions. University Heights Center. 3rd Floor Auditorium. Entrance to the building by the Southwest Door, (Facing Brooklyn Ave) . Sunday Nov. 5. 7 pm
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/universityheightscenter/1038977#
Best to get tickets ahead of time. Sliding scale.