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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Cash on Delivery Also see Gil's review of Alibis
The plot focuses on Eric Swan, a man whose elaborate web of welfare fraud begins to unravel when a social worker shows up unexpectedly to obtain a signature on a form. In a desperate bid to cover his tracks, Eric ropes his unsuspecting lodger, Norman, into a series of increasingly ludicrous deceptions in order to, hopefully, not foil the plan. From mistaken identities to hilarious disguises, the pace quickly escalates into a whirlwind of comedic chaos. Michael Cooney clearly has a strong pedigree in comedy as he is the son of Ray Cooney, the author of several famous London based farces including See How They Run which Hale presented last season. Following in his father's footsteps, Michael has crafted a layered plot filled with quirky characters, farcical situations that built on each other, and an ending that ties everything together neatly. The comedy does take a little time to hit its stride, with the first ten minutes slowly laying out the various plot elements before they quickly come together, and the second act would benefit from some tightening. The cast is excellent. As Eric Swan, Josh Hunt delivers a pitch-perfect performance, balancing frantic desperation with razor-sharp comedic timing. Hunt's ability to handle the escalating absurdity of the plot with such charm anchors the entire production and his charisma makes Eric a lovable character even though he is committing fraud and bilking the British government out of thousands of pounds. As Norman, Daniel Hunt shines in his Hale debut with a mix of innocence and bewilderment, providing the perfect foil to Eric's scheming nature. The supporting cast is equally as good. Amanda Valenzuela shines as Linda, Eric's unsuspecting wife, with expressive reactions that perfectly portray how Linda is caught between confusion and concern over the events unfolding around her. Jere Van Patten, who plays the employee who comes to obtain the document signature, and Gracie Gamble, who portrays a social worker who comes to attend to the needs of one of the fictitious borders Eric has created, are both hilarious as their characters get pulled into the madness, with straight-faced expressions and slightly confused gestures that make every misunderstanding even funnier. In supporting roles, J. Clay Lawson and J. Kevin Tallent are wonderful and add to the hilarity as Eric's uncle and a sex therapist, respectively. Dyana Carroll is perfect as the battle axe of a social services manager and Raymond Barcelo and Alixandra Giordano do good work as an eccentric mortician and Norman's fiancée. Tim Dietlein's razor-sharp direction and tight pacing handle every comic moment in the script with authority, ensuring no moment or character feels underdeveloped or rushed and that every funny line, comical bit, or humorous gesture derives appropriate laughs and lands with precision. McKenna Carpenter and Brittany Arwine's set design beautifully depicts the main room, stairs, the requested number of doors required for a farce, period perfect furniture and fixtures for with Eric and Linda's London flat. The costumes by Brielle Hawkes are character specific and fun and Adam Chagnon's sound design adds some nice comic touches to the production. With every farcical twist beautifully staged with clarity, ensuring the audience never gets lost amongst the delightful chaos, and a top-notch cast, Cash on Delivery at Hale Centre Theatre is a winning production of this laugh-out-loud farce. Cash on Delivery runs through February 8, 2025, at Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.haletheatrearizona.com or call 480-497-1181 Producers and Casting Directors: David and Corrin Dietlein Cast: |
