It’s 1932, during the period of prohibition, in Niagara Falls. This is the setting for the farce Too Many Cooks playing at Stage West Theatre. It makes for a funny and light narrative coupled with some great comedians. This production is time away from the world around us, where everything works out and you get to laugh while away.
The play, written by Marcia Kash and Douglas E. Hughes tells of Irving Bubbalowe (Mark Weatherley) who is trying to open up a small restaurant, ‘Le Chateau Bubbalowe’, along with his daughter Honey (Gianna Read-Skelton). It’s opening day and the prominent chef they have hired is just about to show up. Francois LaPlouffe is not only a chef, he can also sing opera. But then things go awry as LaPlouffe doesn’t show up, due to being chased by Immigration and the Bubbalowe’s figure out that their employee Mickey (Greg Pember) is using their storage area to hold illegal booze. This brings about the mobster Alfonse ‘Noodles’ Feghetti (Terry Barna) and his partner Shirley (Joel Schaefer), as well as Veronica Snook (Katherine Fadum) with Immigration looking for LaPlouffe and Constable Hamilton X. Effing (Jeremy Lapalme) looking for the booze. It’s a perfect set up for many laughs especially when Frank Plunkett (A Braatz) comes looking for a job as a chef.
For this narrative to hold together, the main character trying to keep it from falling apart has to have amazing comedic talent and that’s present in Weatherley. His comedic timing is impeccable and he guards the audience’s ability to believe. The rest of the cast also are talented in their roles, but most especially Braatz who has to change his accent and demeanor, practically every second, to take on other identities. Barna has a bit of a difficult role to play as Feghetti, as he needs to be menacing and show a soft side. Barna mostly hits all the points, although the soft side is less believable. Read-Skelton is really funny in all the identities she plays and her physical comedy is solid. Fadum also dials up the physical comedy for her part. It’s been fascinating watching Schaefer in his various roles on stage and this role allows him to show his gangster side. Pember provides all the basis for the conflict and demonstrates that he can play up comedy, dead or alive.
The production is supplemented by Sean D. Ellis’ set design so that there are many doors for characters to disappear behind, while Norman J. Galenza-McDonald’s costuming keeps everyone straight and under different identities. J. Sean Elliott’s direction keeps everything moving along without it getting too complicated.
If you’re looking for a good time to enjoy the simplicity of mistaken identity in a farce comedy, this production is for you.
Stage West’s production of Too Many Cooks runs until April 13th. More information is available online.
Photo: Joel Schaefer, Greg Pember, Terry Barna. Credit: John Watson