Quartet at Stagecrafters Hits the High Notes

Theater: The Stagecrafters
Show Title: Quartet
Opened: February 29, 2008
Seen: March 1, 2008
Reviewer: Gary Labowitz
Submitted: March 2, 2008

The Stagecrafters presents “Quartet” by Ronald Harwood, directed by Christopher Sarnowski. Feb. 29 – Mar. 15, 2008
8130 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA

The play takes us to a country house in Kent, England, which serves as a retirement home. It is not clear if it is only for the old and infirm from the performing arts, but the main characters are all former opera singers. The other residents they talk about, past and present, are or were singers and musicians.

There is the broad, English humor here, of the kind seen on the Benny Hill series, and other British comedies on BBC America. If this is your cup of tea, you cannot miss this show. If you are unaware of this style of humor, this show will give you a good exposure to quality British comedy. If you don’t appreciate lust-humor, you have been warned.

The script, by Ronald Harwood, is excellent, befitting an Oscar winning screen writer. Mr. Harwood has a good feel for how old opera stars might behave, and we can accept their antics as an honest portrayal: knowledgeable of their craft, in love with the music, and just as silly as the rest of us, maybe even moreso.

The characters we meet initially are Cecily, mezzo-soprano (Marilyn Yoblick), Reginald, tenor (Court van Rooten), and Wilfred, baritone (Richard Geller). Two, Reginald and Cecily, are in decline, with physical or mental impairments, but Wilfred is hale, if broke. Some of the amusement comes from Cecily frequently thinking that her fellow residents have just returned from India and from Reginald’s lustful conversation. All three look back on their past triumphs and are planning to perform at the residence at a “gala” in honor of Giuseppe Verdi’s birthday (who Cecily delights in calling “Joe Green”).

Into this whimsical setting comes a new resident, soprano Jean (Susan Mattson) who was once married to Wilfred. This distresses him. However, it makes it possible for them to plan to sing the quartet from Rigoletto.

Between the various grudges, mistrust, physical difficulties (Jean is waiting for a hip replacement and limps around with a cane), jealousies, and doubts about their ability to sing again we are treated to some very funny English humor. Some is wry and subtle. Some is lusty and obvious.

The outcome is far from obvious. But it is delightful as the members of the quartet work through their difficulties. And the outcome is very satisfying. Stagecrafters has put together a lovely show. Each of the actors in the quartet is delightful. I even imagined they were all born in England; their accents were perfect. They were all comedic in action and timing, and interacted naturally and appropriately. We have to give the credit to the director, Christopher Sarnowski, but in this case he has a capable crew able to give him what he wanted. It’s a great quartet of talent!