`Get Smart' not brainy but funny.

Byline: Paul Kolas

COLUMN: THEATER REVIEW

STURBRIDGE - Whatever Stageloft Repertory Theater's production of "Get Smart" may lack in narrative continuity and logic is more than compensated for by the show's faithful adherence to its source's bumbling sense of humor.

Mel Brooks took it upon himself to skewer the James Bond mania of the '60s and TV spinoffs like "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," and the result was the popular "Get Smart" TV show that ran from 1965-1970 and the recent movie with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. In Stageloft's production, Director Ed Cornely even slips in an inside reference to Napoleon Solo, the lead character in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

It's pretty much a kitchen sink affair in which the silly plot doesn't matter nearly as much as the zany characters who inhabit it and the actors who embody them with kitschy aplomb. Steve Caputo does a fine, fumbling impersonation of Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86. He is assigned by CONTROL (the good guys) Chief (Steve Ossias) to thwart KAOS' (the bad guys) evil plans to steal the Enthermo, a device that can convert heat waves into a powerful destructive force. The mastermind behind KAOS, the ironically named Mr. Big (Jim Douglas), demands $100,000,000 or he will unleash the Enthermo on the world's major cities.

He also holds four kidnapped blondes and the brainwashed Princess Ingrid (Kyla Reslock) hostage.

For those old enough to remember Tom Jones singing songs like "What's New Pussycat?" the show will be a trip down memory lane. Mr. Big may think that he's torturing his blonde captives (exuberantly played by MaryAnne Campbell, Maria Schantz, Marie Woodman Daley and Maria Laverty) by forcing them to listen to Jones' pop songs, but those perceived howls of anguish are really peals of ecstasy.

The only thing missing here is an opportunity for Caputo to use one of Smart's two famous phrases - "I missed it by THAT much!" But he does get to say "Would you believe?" on several occasions, and most of the TV show's trademark props and gimmicks are present, including the indispensable shoe phone and conducting covert ops from a trash can. Caputo's pairing with Emma Gruttadauria as the incomparable Agent 99 produces a nice, offbeat chemistry, which is exactly what is called for. Gruttadauria is a winsome, curvaceous delight in the role, as she steers her partner toward accomplishing his mission.

For those who have seen the film version of Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," Reslock might well put you in mind of Terri Garr's memorable Inga, with her blonde incandescence and perky Scandinavian accent. Mark Bourdeau invests his role as Professor Dante, the creator of the Enthermo, with the prescribed eccentric genius, and as a reward, gets a laugh with the show's best you-knew-it-was-coming pun. He's well-assisted by Rose Gage's scholarly defined Professor Zalinka. Carol Sweny pleasantly administers the part of Chief's loyal assistant Miss Finch. Tim Fairley is amusing as the often weepy and self-pitying Agent 44. Douglas is too funny to be truly evil, moving about on his knees to approximate the diminutive Mr. Big. The "Wong" trio of Candy Schap, Angela Santamaria-Hough and Ellen Cornely make quite a fashion statement as KAOS agents. Aided by some very inventive sound effects, the voice of Dave Glanville adds a slyly winking narrative to this relax-and-enjoy tomfoolery.

"GET SMART"

* * *

By Mel Brooks, directed by Ed Cornely. At Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. Performances Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., through Feb. 5. Tickets: $17, $15 seniors 65+, $8 students 12 and younger. For information and reservations, call (508) 347-9005 or visit www.stageloft.com online.

With Steve Caputo, Steve Ossias, Emma Gruttadauria, Jim Douglas, Jim Coulter, Rose Gage, Mark Bourdeau, Carol Sweny, Tim Fairley, Harry Pearson, Kyla Reslock, Mike Reppucci, Candy Schap, Angela Santamaria-Hough, Ellen Cornely, Anne Adams, Leo Goodman, Kayleigh Blanchard, MaryAnne Campbell, Maria Schantz, Marie Woodman Daley and Maria Laverty.

Key to the Stars

* * * * Hot Stuff

* * * Good job

* * Not Bad

* Never Mind

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Title Annotation:	LOCAL NEWS
Publication:	Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA)
Date:	Jan 22, 2012
Words:	674
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