I’m relatively confident (but not overly so) that we’re going to have a stupendous opening night performance of Unnecessary Farce this evening at Wayside Theatre. Comedy is hard work, and everyone has worked hard to make this show shine. The show, by Paul Slade Smith, is hysterically conceived and written. During our two preview performances yesterday both audiences (very different audiences) hooted and howled with laughter and we got some great comments that will help us shape it further in the final rehearsal this afternoon before the opening night curtain.
The cast is doing exceptional work and Wayside Theatre is going to debut three young actors in this show who are just fun to watch. Leah Raulerson, (who actually debuted with us in Moonlight and Magnolias), Dacia Dick, and Matt Baldoni are all exceptional and very, very funny. They play with Larry Dahlke, James Laster, Barbara Callander, and Dustin Loomis, and the ensemble work is as tight as it needs to make a show like this work. When they are all on and cooking, it is breathtakingly funny to watch.
I could be wrong, I have been before, but I think we’re in for a healthy fun run with this show. I look forward to the silliness on stage, and the celebrating after.
