Reviewed by Sue Nedar The latest offering at the charming and friendly Arctic Playhouse is “Bermuda Avenue Triangle,” written by Renee Taylor (best known for her portrayal of Sylvia Fine, on The Nanny) and her husband Joseph Bologna. The script is a recipe for success, filled with one-liners, farce, and just plain old funny circumstances.
What we have
here is a Jewish widow named Fannie, played by Maureen Noel, and an Italian
widow named Tess (but who was married to a Sicilian…) played by Camille
Terilli, who’ve been set up by their well-off daughters (Denise Izzi, and
Laurie Lavallee) in a nice condo in Las Vegas. Needless to say, neither
Fannie nor Tess want to be there. But soon, their misery becomes amore,
as a gambling grifter (Ron Martin) who’s short on cash, finds himself first on
their sofa, and soon in each of their beds. Throw in the resident Rabbii
(Ed Carusi) who must inform the ladies that their behavior has been noticed by
the Condo Association, and you’re in for more than just a few laughs!
Under the skillful direction of Tony Annicone, the action moves along
briskly. He’s taken a funny script and given his actors plenty to roll
with.
The thing that you notice right away is, these ladies; Maureen Noel and Camille
Terilli have a TON of lines. I mean… A METRIC TON! And they never
miss a beat. Each of them created characters that you in turn roll your
eyes at, and have such great empathy for. Maureen is delectable in the
opening scenes, with her whining, crying, and generally annoying self, only to
grow into a woman in charge of her life and her wants by the end of the
show. And Camille, conversely, begins coarse, abrasive, and cold, but
grows into a woman with feelings and a heart. Mind you, all through their
hilarious dialogue, and their acting skills.
As
they say in the theatre, “there are no small roles,” and this is
especially true of Ed Carusi’s role – The Rabbii. Ed does a bang-up job
as the straight man. Denise and Laurie, playing the two daughters, do a
great job with their roles. The characters are written as support roles,
but these two gals make sure to take their moments. And rounding
out the cast is Ron Martin as the cad. Ron’s character IS a cad, there’s
no question, but his acting skills allow you to overlook the fact that he’s
fleecing two widows in their golden years, and you actually kind of see him as
a hero. Ron is an absolute hoot as Johnny Paolucci.
The set is perfect for the space, and suits the action well. And a nod
goes to stage manager, Christopher Ferreira for his quick and stealthy scene
changes. In a nutshell, there is absolutely NO reason not to go and see Bermuda
Avenue Triangle. It’s a funny play, performed by funny actors, and a
darling space, operated by the nicest people you’ll ever meet. And… the
price can’t be beat!
When you go,
tell them I sent ya!
Bermuda Avenue Triangle
The Arctic Playhouse
401-573-3443 or www.thearcticplayhouse.com
February 27-March 15, 2020
