`STIFF' PACKS BIG LAUGHS : COMIC STORY OF CORPSE PROVIDES TWISTS GALORE.

Byline: Victoria Giraud Daily News Staff Writer

For belly laughs and fall-down-funny antics, catch the zany musical farce ``Lucky Stiff'' at the Marquie Dinner Theatre.

A corpse - a show-stealing performance by Paul Marquie, alias Rick A. Mortis - is the improbable star. The high energy of the madcap cast keeps the audience guessing what absurdity is coming next.

Essentially, the story reveals what might happen should a poor, young English shoe salesman, Harry (played winningly by James Harlow) inherit $6 million from an unknown American uncle. The catch is that Harry must take the dead body of his supposed uncle to a last vacation in Monte Carlo, fulfilling all his last wishes, like fishing, snorkeling, parasailing, gambling, etc.

If Harry doesn't follow his uncle's tape-recorded orders, he'll forfeit his money to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn, represented by the indomitable Annabel. Straight-laced Annabel, played with vivacious charm in a sparkling performance by Jeannine Marquie, is zealous about dogs, but what is a play without a romance?

Of course she eventually falls for Harry, but it takes innumerable plot twists and lots of champagne before she succumbs.

The farcical, nonsensical plot is sometimes hard to follow with its allusions to murder, embezzlement, love affairs, etc., but inevitably that makes no difference since there's always merriment and plenty of entertaining characters changing identities and costumes. Not to mention the ``stiff'' in a wheelchair who's rolled up and down the ramps to the stage, is talked to, made love to, and even gets lost, thanks to a drunk hotel chambermaid (the irrepressible Dee Anne Helsel, who plays several outrageous roles).

Part of the fun comes from nearsighted, gun-toting Rita, an animated and comical portrayal by Diann Alexander, who is usually seen directing orchestras at the Civic Arts Plaza, and her henpecked, optometrist brother, Vinnie (played with panache by Mark Sawyer).

Cast members Deidre Fisher, Ron Ford and William Terry had the stamina and comic energy to play six to eight roles each. And then there's Luigi, later revealed to be the thought-to-be dead Tony, an entertaining performance by David C. Barry Jr.

Special mention should be made of Edward French, whose professional makeup and effects talents were put to use in the creation of unique dog masks for the cast for a nightmare dream sequence. Each dog face was appropriate to the character.

Kudos for the clever set design by Tom and excellent direction by Rex Waggoner.

THE FACTS

WHAT: ``Lucky Stiff,'' book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty.

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday through June 8; doors open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:45 p.m.

WHERE: Marquie Dinner Theatre, 340 N. Mobil Ave., Camarillo.

COST: $26 per person on Thursdays (seniors $24 on Thursdays), $28 per person Friday-Saturday.

INFORMATION: [phone].

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Photo

Photo:Jim Harlow reacts to a telegram while Dee Anne Helsel and William Terry feign ignorance in ``Lucky Stiff.''