What I liked
The enthusiastic, accomplished cast, which got all the laughs that are in this frantic French farce (now a half-century old), abetted by shrewd stage direction and a bright, brilliant 3-wall set that’s “cozy” but exactly right.
What I didn't like
In the play script itself, “The Maid” is sour and unlikable, and the tyro actress stuck with that role couldn’t overcome its limitations.
My overall impression
Flat-out Farce can be exhausting for the audience AND the actors, so this cast of 6 (2m/4f) must be ready for R&R when they finish 2h-15m of THIS show! These AMDA grads, shrewdly directed by mentor-teacher Betty Karlen, are only a slice below A+ and once they’ve done it again for 3 weekends in July they’ll all be real pros! They demonstrate the chops, maneuvering fluidly around a tight but splendid set (too elaborate for Fringe, except for this single last-day preview) with doors galore, as every frantic farce really needs. The loud and long audience laughter was their reward on Sunday; they deserve more when their longer run begins in July!
