Theater Review By Myra Chanin . . . .
America’s Sexiest Couple, currently being presented by Boca Stage, might just as easily be entitled “America’s Formerly Sexiest Couple.” It has a cast of three but is not a throuple and is equally funny and sexy. Its wit is the work of two-time Emmy-Award-winning Ken Levine, a multi-faceted writer/director/producer, and would-you-believe major league baseball announcer whose 30-year career includes stints on “M.A.S.H.,” “Cheers,” “Frasier,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and is the co-creation of three lesser series. He’s been the radio/TV play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres and is a contributing cartoonist to the New Yorker Magazine. Genie Croft, the play’s director, is a co-founder of Boca Stage and a master of comedy. She finds Levine clever, sharp, funny, and satirical. She approves of his poking fun at TV celebrity culture but also finds surprising poignancy in his observations.
Who was America’s sexiest couple? Two actors who became stars portraying star-crossed, lusting-after-each-other-in-vain, bandage-closet medical residents. The surname-less “Susan,” played by Kim Ostrenko, and “Craig McAllister,” played by Wayne LeGette, whose newly acquired six-pack abs previously went unnoticed by me. Did they slake their lust on the premises? No, because something happened that traumatized Susan enough to make her quit the series midway through its run, to the detriment of her resume, while Craig remained visibly in the public eye as a “medico” for several more years and continued working.
One might also ask why Susan is spraying herself with cologne in a hotel room in Syracuse 25 years later. She’d been invited to attend the funeral of cast member Danny Ventura, who played a comic role on Residents, and “loved making people happy both on and off the show.” Susan is not a fan of his. She’s in Syracuse because she suspects/hopes/fears that she and Craig McAllister, who would be delivering Danny’s eulogy, might resolve what America’s sexiest couple might do if they happened to find themselves alone in a room with a mattress.
Although she’s been assured by the very resourceful hotel bellboy that she’s been given the best room in the hotel, she is not pleased to learn that Craig has been upgraded to a suite because he’s a spokesperson for Marriott. In between their arguments, we learn that each had feelings for the other, and even though nothing sexual happened between them before, before may not be forever . . . or even an hour and twenty minutes later, which is the length of the performance.
Will they/won’t they? leads into do they/don’t they, which is hilarious. ‘Nuff said.
A few words about the cast. Kim Ostrenko and Wayne LeGette are both members of Actors Equity, a professional union that fosters live theater as an essential component of society. Both Kim and Wayne have been stalwart not only in our locale, where they’ve won many regional prizes, but from sea to shining sea. I found it very “now” that she was taller than he, which would have been a blatant no-no in the days when the soap opera would have been on the air.
This role was made to order for LaGette. He’s handsome, has a smooth voice, a charming manner, and a full head of hair. He’d be worth his weight in greenbacks to any organization that could add an evening with him to their charity auction prizes. Don’t believe me? I was in the theater when several rich ladies fought over Hugh Jackman’s sweaty undershirt, which went home with Judge Judy as next year’s IRS 20K charitable deduction.
I found Kim a little strident. I would have preferred her voice to be less screechy and more seductive, but she got what she wanted in the end. I must tell you, that one of the exchanges between them was so hilariously funny that my guest, who is no lover of profanity, is still quoting the retort and laughing about it a week later.
I was extremely impressed with Forrest Stringfellow, a recent BFA acting program grad at the University of Central Florida, who played the bellhop and more than held his own, and maybe even stole the stage from these two seasoned pros when they were all on stage together. He has the makings of a character actor who will find non-stop employment.
And last and always is the perpetually amazing eye of Set Designer Cindi Blank Taylor, whose recreation of the best room in a Syracuse New York hotel was as classy as it could ever be. Bravo to Alberto Arroyo whose understanding of middle-aged underwear fantasies was perfection. David Hart’s sound allowed everyone to hear every word.
And everyone in the audience left with a big smile on his/her face.
America’s Sexiest Couple. Through April 27 at the Delray Beach Playhouse (950 NW 9th Street, Delray Beach, FLORIDA). www.delraybeachplayhouse.org
Photos: Amy Pasquantonio
