DON'T BE FOOLED - 'DECEIT' ISN'T ALL THAT GREAT.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic OK, SO HOW much can any self-respecting, non-plot-spoiling theater critic say about a three-character thriller without double-crossing - or even triple-crossing - a potential viewer's interest level? Bruce Kimmel, a music producer of some renown, has written and directed a play called ``Deceit Deceit Aimwell pretends to be titled to wed into wealth. [Br. Lit.: The Beaux’ Stratagem] Ananias lies about amount of money received for land. [N.T.: Acts 5:1–6] Ananias Club all its members are liars. [Am. .'' It's safe to reveal that the title is an apt one, as the play's 100 minutes contain a death, a murder, a triangle and the frequent turning of tables. More specifically, Kate, the beautiful widow of Jeffrey, who was lost at sea several months before the play begins, receives a visit from Jeffrey's best friend, Michael. Michael has a keepsake of Jeffrey, and a message to deliver. Things quickly take a turn for the thrilling. Which about does it for the spoil-free plot. So how's about we make a few observations about ``Deceit,'' strongly encourage you to skip this production and be on our merry way. 1. With only three characters, and intrigue Intrigue See also Conspiracy. Borgias 15th-century family who stopped at nothing to gain power. [Ital. Hist.: Plumb, 59] Ems dispatch Bismarck’s purposely provocative memo on Spanish succession; sparked Franco-Prussian war (1870). on the playwright's brain, options are severely limited. Thus, when a person is supposed to be dead/murdered early on, dollars to doughnuts says he/she actually isn't. And everybody knows it. 2. A careful schemer trusts his own eyes first, a videotape videotape Magnetic tape used to record visual images and sound, or the recording itself. There are two types of videotape recorders, the transverse (or quad) and the helical. second. Stupidity and carelessness do not count as plot twists. 3. Officers from the New York Police New York Police may refer to:
The production itself? Oh, right ... 4. Matthew Ashford Matthew Nile Ashford (born January 29, 1960 in Davenport, Iowa) is an American actor. Personal life Ashford comes from a large family, being the sixth of eight children. He graduated with a B.F.A. in Theater from the North Carolina School in the Arts in Winston-Salem. , playing the best friend, is a believable be·liev·a·ble adj. Capable of eliciting belief or trust. See Synonyms at plausible. be·liev  a·bil lothario who should decide either to do an English accent fully or drop
it entirely.
5. Tammy Minoff, as the widow, is largely wooden until the plot requires her to be otherwise. 6. Greg Albanese as character No. 3 (three guesses who he's playing) makes what little use of stage time he has to convincingly portray a vengeful egghead. 7. Kimmel the director clearly wants laughs that Kimmel the writer doesn't supply. Having someone reference the title ``A Bowel in Two Movements'' isn't funny the first time or when it's repeated. 8. Ira Levin (author of ``Deathtrap death·trap n. 1. An unsafe building or other structure. 2. A perilous circumstance or situation. Noun 1. ,'') Anthony Schafer (``Sleuth'') and Rupert Holmes (``Accomplice'') all have done this kind of work infinitely better than Kimmel has. That is, unfortunately, no deceit. Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com DECEIT - Two stars Where: El Portal El Portal may refer to different places in the United States:
When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; through Feb. 19. Tickets: $25. Call (800) 595-4849 or www.tix.com. In a nutshell nut·shell n. The shell enclosing the meat of a nut. Idiom: in a nutshell In a few words; concisely: Just give me the facts in a nutshell. Adv. 1. : A chemist mixing explosive elements couldn't stick more closely to a formula than Bruce Kimmel does with his twist-laden thriller. |
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