|
Regional Reviews: Phoenix Love, Sex and the I.R.S. Also see Gil's reviews of God's Favorite, Menopause the Musical and Anything Goes
The premise is fairly simple. Jon decided several years back to state on his income tax form that he and his roommate Leslie are a married couple as a way to get a bigger tax return. That Leslie is a man and they both have girlfriends adds a bit of a wrinkle to the plan when they receive a letter from the I.R.S. saying that they are going to be investigated. The only solution? Have Leslie dress up as Jon's wife to hopefully fool the tax man. Needless to say, things don't go as planned. Isaac Wesley Wilson is delivering an excellent comedic performance as Leslie. While he clearly makes one of the most unattractive women you've ever seen when he puts on a dress and make-up, that's the point, and Wilson has a blast in the part. His sweet disposition and charm are a nice counterpoint to the frustration he feels as Leslie when he is forced to pretend to be a woman. His inability to speak when he is faced with a serious situation is also excellently played. While Kyle Braun doesn't get as many comedic moments, he still manages a fine, measured portrayal of Jon, the, mostly, level-headed "straight" man of the play. Louise Keeton is lovely as Kate, the woman who finds herself in love with both men. Her stage presence, line delivery, and facial expressions are finely tuned with the happenings on stage. Gerry Konjura is a gem as the tax man Floyd Spinner. Both he and his wife Sherry Konjura (also Keeton's grandmother), who plays Jon's mother in the play, have superb comedic facial expressions and timing. They also don't force the humorous moments too much over the line, or make them too broad, thereby achieving rich comedic characters. Toni Kallen is a hoot as the butch, nosey landlady, and Melissa Mitchell is funny as Leslie's girlfriend Connie. Rob Watson's direction keeps the hilarity moving briskly along and makes fine use of the doors of the set, ensuring the cast achieves farce-like timing with their entrances and exits. Tamara Treat's costumes are character perfect, especially the vibrantly comical designs for Leslie's feminine side. Love, Sex and the I.R.S. isn't the most original play, and some of the outcome is predictable, but it still amounts to a fun, upbeat comedy with lots of wit and charm. The Palms Theatre production has a gifted comedic cast who willingly throw themselves into the action of the fast-paced hijinks with giddy results. The Palms Theatre production of Love, Sex and the I.R.S. runs through March 28th, 2015, at 5247 East Brown Road in Mesa. Tickets and information for their series of productions and concerts can be found at thepalmstheatre.comor by calling 480 924-6260. Written by William Van Zandt & Jane Milmore Cast: (in alphabetical order)
|
