Matthew Barber's Enchanted April is a fine English play done beautifully -- a domestic drama that peeks into a pre-feminist time as four women rent a chateau in Italy to get away from their London lives. The entire cast, tastefully, imaginatively, directed by Michael Wilson, is of the highest level, with the delightful Jayne Atkinson leading the foray of classic characters: a surprising Molly Ringwald as a rejected wife, Elizabeth Ashley in a Tallulah Bankhead role - perfectly cast in the whiskey/cigarette tone of a Grande Damme (or Hamme), the beautiful Dagmara Domincyk as the haughty young beauty, and Patricia Conolly, speaking only Italian, almost steals the show. As for the men, Michael Cumpsty as the epitome of overbearing square husband who becomes the object of a farcical scene, Daniel Gerroll, who betrays his art for fame, and Michael Hayden, as the sensitive chateau owner, all counterpoint nicely with the women. Drama, sentiment, farce -- I liked the show from the beginning. By Act Two, I loved it.
Previews:
April 8, 2003
Opened:
April 29, 2003
Ended:
August 2003
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Jeffrey Richards, Richard Gross, Ellen Berman, Irv Welzer & Fred Vogel.
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Belasco Theater
Theater Address:
111 West 44th Street
Genre:
Comedy
Director:
Michael Wilson
Review:
Parental:
brief nudity, adult themes
Cast:
Michael Cumpsty, Daniel Gerroll, Patricia Conolly, Dagmara Domincyk, Molly Ringwald, Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Hayden, Jayne Atkinson
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz +
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
May 2003
