I must admit I was having a hard time getting enthused about seeing Mask & Mirror’s latest offering, Suite Surrender. Michael McKeever’s classic WWII era farce about a pair of dueling divas is funny, well-written and lively, but I felt like there was nothing new in it for me – I’ve seen the show several times in the last decade, and have seen two key players fill lead roles, direct, or both in previous productions. What I did not anticipate was the extent to which some new cast members would refresh and enhance the experience for me – so much so that I would advise even the Suite Surrender jaded to consider seeing the show one more time.
First, a brief recap of the story: Claudia McFadden and Athena Sinclair are big Hollywood stars who have been playing benefit performances all over the country to raise money for the war effort. They are fiercely combative rivals whose well-publicized fights are a big draw for the public, and it is essential that they be kept apart, both on-stage and off. Due to an apparent mix-up, both women have been booked into the same elegant suite at the Palm Beach Royale Hotel, and the play revolves around the (ultimately unsuccessful) efforts by the hotel management, staff, and the stars’ secretaries to keep the women from discovering the error.
The first time I saw Suite Surrender (in 2013) it was directed by Kraig Williams, who was also called upon to play the role of Mr. Pippet in several performances. Aaron Morrow, who played the role of hotel manager Mr. Dunlap in the 2013 production, is the director of the current Mask & Mirror production, and Williams is again playing Mr. Pippet. Continuing the déjà vu all over again nature of this play, due to an unforeseen injury, director Morrow finds himself reprising the role of Mr.Dunlap. As if all of that were not enough, I’m pretty sure the stuffed dog playing Mr. Boodles is a veteran of every Washington County Suite Surrender stage. Got that?
Those of you who saw the 2013 production (or an intervening offering from a few years ago) will know that both Morrow and Williams are physically and expressively quite perfect for the roles they play (Mr. Boodles, while anatomically ideal, lacks emotional depth)– enough said. My focus is on the newcomers – starting with Lura Longmire’s utterly commanding performance as Claudia McFadden. She is imperious, demanding, and very, very funny –and she absolutely nails the vocals (yes, there is singing!). Mary Reischmann’s extraordinarily egotistical and lascivious take on Athena Sinclair creates the perfect adversary – and Reischmann absolutely ROCKS the 1940s Hollywood-era dress she is wearing.
Other star turns that demand mention include Laurie Monday, who is unbelievable as the befuddled and perennially wide-eyed Mrs. Osgood – definitely not to be missed. While he spends a significant amount of time out of sight and apparently unconscious, Steve Hotaling takes Otis to truly lofty heights of cluelessness and is a joy to watch.
As always, Woody Woodbury’s set is exquisite, and captures the flavor of the time and place precisely. Morrow has drawn strong performances from all of his cast members – my one complaint would be that in the opening scene characters seemed to be rushing their lines, which made it hard to follow the dialogue. Once the pacing settled down everything was sharp and clear. It’s not a long show, and there’s no need to hurry!
Mask & Mirror’s Suite Surrender runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm through May 22 at “The Stage” at Rise Church, 10445 SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard, 97224.
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