By Anne Ritchie
The Boston marathon sets the pace for love when I Take This Man takes first place June 3 to 20 with Blackhorse Village Players.
The romantic comedy leaves the audience chuckling at the foibles and fantasies of a young woman set on winning a race with love. However, it's not the fair maiden in distress this time, it's the fair man.
As the perky Gideon, Justine McCloskey works ardently to convince us that is the way it should be. No matter that mystery man has conveniently fallen at her feet already in a stupor. The aptly named Giddy will make the most of her opportunity.
Giddy tells it like it is, or rather, as she sees it is, and has a reply, rationale and reason to make it true.
The quick comebacks to those who question her ideas make her all the more delightful. McCloskey has the talent and timing to pull it all off.
For a man who remains unconscious in the first act, Antonio generates a lot of excitement. Actor Mike Eagles puts on an entertaining performance of a man who wakens to a world he does not know in a strangely dressed body he does not recognize, introduced to a relationship he has never been aware existed. No wonder he is confused, and thank goodness Giddy has all the answers. The situation brings out the best in an actor who masters a bewildered, bemused and befuddled character with his own assurance, ability and humor.
Giddy's sister, Charlene (Alanna Cardarelli) is bewildered as well. Cardarelli is the big sister we all wish we had; a motherly buddy, competent but trusting, giddy in the most understandable ways (particularly when wine is concerned), a practical guide who gets lost in Giddy's fanciful reasoning. Cardarelli brings all facets of a role into focus with a most enjoyable performance.
Aiding and abetting the comic situation, actor Joe Gallant introduces us to one of Boston's finest.
The audience easily recognizes the finely tuned character of the Irish police officer, and the mannerisms of a law and order are captured in Gallant's excellent performance.
The situation gets even more complicated when reality meets fantasy. When Charlene's beau Dexter, played by Chad Kotnisz, arrives, even more assumptions, presumptions, and explanations abound. Kotnisz raises every turn in the plot. Where Giddy finds love, Kotnisz is suspicious. Where Charlene finds reasoning, he raises questions. And where he finds Antonio in a bedroom, why even Antonio does not know why he's there. Kotnisz is drawn into, and adds greatly to, a highly entertaining evening.
The screwball shenanigans of I Take This Man are produced by the multi-talented Kate Horzempa and Vicki Drier and directed by two longtime artists experienced in many facets of Blackhorse. James McFarlane and Larry Hines bring to the role of director and assistant director as much talent as they've brought to stage performances. Considering this includes McFarlane's two decades at Blackhorse and Hines nomination of ACT-CO's Best Actor award, the audience is the real winner in the marathon of wit offered by I Take This Man, playing June 3 to 20.
