Oregon Shakespeare Festival's staging of classics draws most visitors to the quaint town of Ashland. However, most audience members prefer a bit of variety in their theatrical diet, and the OSF obliges with Enter the Guardsman, a light, witty confection of a musical comedy based on a Ferenc Molnar's 1910 boulevard comedy The Guardsman. The musical explores the nature of romance, as seen in the relationship between a pair of leading players. Married in real life, they fret when their affection begins to fade. In a fit of jealousy, the husband disguises himself as a dashing guardsman to test his wife's fidelity.
This first-rate production benefits from Peter Amster's superb direction, which moves things along at a brisk, but seemingly unhurried, pace. The musical is perfectly suited to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's strengths: solid production values, including Daniel Ostling's clever sets and Galina Solovyeva's glorious costumes; attention to detail; and an exceptional cast. Michael Elich as the scheming Actor is a comic delight, while his wife, played by Suzanne Irving, is a delicious diva. Attempting to mediate between these two is the suave, sophisticated Playwright (Richard Farrell). Behind-the-scenes commentary is provided by a Dresser (Linda Alper), a Wigmaster (David Kelly) and a Wardrobe Mistress (Christine Williams). Their comic and singing talents come together in a tartly hilarious musical number, "The Language of Flowers."
It is not surprising that Enter the Guardsman has been sweeping the regional theater circuit, with productions in Chicago, Indiana, New Jersey, San Jose and, most recently, San Diego. It also had an Off-Broadway run in 2000. It first surfaced in 1998, when it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in London. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Enter the Guardsman allows its classically-trained actors to stretch in new directions, albeit in the familiar setting of a backstage musical.
