Life With Ferris: The Actors Shine In “The Play’s The Thing”

If you are familiar at all with “Jeeves the Butler,” you are aware of P.G. Wodehouse, the author and playwright who adapted “The Play’s the Thing” by Ferenc Molnar from Hungarian to English. In 1926, the racy play ran for 313 performances on Broadway. Signal Mountain resident, actor and Mountain Mirror contributor Nathanial Gee adopted the play for the Signal Mountain Playhouse’s winter play. If popular demand had a say, his version of the play would have run for at least 313 performances, as well. Just ask Anne Rittenberry, who enjoyed this play numerous times. There are myriad nuances and subtleties that make this production a treat again and again.

“Every performance just gets better and better,” Anne said.

I was lucky enough to sit with Anne and my niece-in-law Candace Kelley, and the play’s depth and sophistication was notable, but the performances of all seven characters were outstanding! CJ Bieter is a favorite and I’ve loved her in many SMP plays, and I loved seeing Devin Laman as Mansky. Justin Forsythe was fabulous as Albert Adam, and his understated but spot-on expressions were priceless. I loved Derrick Raley in “The Music Man,” and he brings his background in Shakespeare to his performance.

Sarah Jackson was fantastic as the Hungarian housekeeper in a French maid outfit. Deadpan and completely at ease on stage, Jackson’s timing was perfect, and she had the audience wrapped right around her little finger.

I also loved Claire Spangenberg and Andrew Parker in “The Music Man” but barely recognized them in “The Play’s the Thing!” That’s how versatile and wildly talented they are. Spangenber’s Marian the librarian did not resemble temptress Ilona Szabo in the least! Claire was fully absorbed in her character, gracefully striking affected poses and making it seem there would be no other way to stand! It seemed she literally couldn’t help herself as her arms seemed to float and twirl and stop in a beautiful curve mid-air, accentuating the fact that the spotlight was on her character. There was nothing forced or false here, although her affectation was hilarious.

And Andrew Parker! The energy this man brings to every single scene is remarkable! This duo, Claire and Andrew, had me the second they appeared on stage in their pajamas, Claire in a pale pink lingerie set bedecked in long stands of pearls and Andrew in colorful pjs and a matching robe! When they were ordered to take a seat, they twirled in unison, their silky robes somehow floating dramatically overhead like capes!

And when Andrew entered the stage on “horseback,” whipping the horse behind him as he rode, he brought the house down. The phrase “You are mistaken” will never sound the same after hearing and seeing Andrew basically breakdance his way through these words. I know that if I ever hear two French words that are over three syllables together, I will smile at his recitation of strings of highfalutin French names for people and castles and manors, over and over, as his frustration mounted. In the meantime, Claire just referred to the above as “them,” arching a smile as she held her arms gracefully outstretched the second they reached their perfect position.

Once again, Michelle Ford was magnificent in her direction of this play. I missed seeing Dani Sibold on stage, but she was present as stage manager.

I hope you had a chance to see this play, and I hope you make plans for the summer production of the Signal Mountain Playhouse’s “The Wizard of Oz!” Mark your calendars for July 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26.

For more information, go to smph.org, the Playhouse pages on either Facebook or Instagram, email signalmountainplayhouse@gmail.com.

You are always in for a treat with The Signal Mountain Playhouse’s productions.

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Ferris Robinson is the author of three children’s books, “The Queen Who Banished Bugs,” “The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds,” and “Call Me Arthropod” in her pollinator series “If Bugs Are Banished.” “Making Arrangements” is her first novel and is available in paperback and on Kindle. “Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity” is a collection of true tales about man’s best friend. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.