Agatha Christie's "Black Coffee" is now showing at the Magenta Theater, 606 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash. The show will run November 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30 p.m. and November 16, 23 at 2 p.m.
Poirot Please:
In this story the famous Hercule Poirot (played ably by Tony Provenzola) is summoned by England's most prominent physicist, Sir Claud Amory. Amory fears that someone in his household is attempting to steal his latest discovery, a secret formula critical to England's defense. But there are other secrets, too.
Poirot, with Captain Hastings at his side, rushes to get there, but arrives too late: Amory has died, his formula is missing and anyone in his country house, full of relatives and guests, could have been responsible.
This is a delightful and perfect community theater piece.
All shows are at the Magenta Theater (address and dates above). Advance Tickets are $12.00 - $15.00. For ticket reservations and/or information: www.magentatheater.com.
Review by Gregory E. Zschomler.
Poirot, with Captain Hastings at his side, rushes to get there, but arrives too late: Amory has died, his formula is missing and anyone in his country house, full of relatives and guests, could have been responsible.
This is a delightful and perfect community theater piece.
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| The cast of "Black Coffee." Tony Pronvenzola as Hercule Poirot seated in the lower right. Photo provided. |
Pleasant Performances:
In this production Lucia Amory is played by Tanya Gray, Miss Caroline Amory by Michele Glover, Barbara Amory by Shaye Eller, Tredwell by Glenn Russell, Richard Amory by Glenn Chipman, E. Raynor by Hillary Marshall, Dr. Carelli by Gary Corbin, Sir Claud Amory and Johnson by Rob Goff, Captain Arthur Hastings by Curtis Hope, Dr. Graham by Reba Hoffman, Inspector Japp by Tim Klein, and Hercule Poirot by Tony Provenzola.
Standout performances were given by Chipman, Eller, Corbin and, of course, Provenzola. Chipman was strong in his role and ruled the stage; Eller, sassy and commanding. Both are talented and accomplished actors.
I've seen Provenzola play many roles--sometimes several in the same play. He is a particularly good comic actor, so casting him in the role of a serious, though slightly eccentric, detective could been a mistake. The performance might have been more Clouseau than Poirot, even if Provenzola has an uncanny resemblance to the classic Christie character. Well, it wasn't a mistake and he played the role with quintessential imitation and great charm.
However, I think it was Corbin, as the Italian Dr. Carelli, I most enjoyed. The flamboyant and oily character was perfectly played with just the right touch of comedy and shiftiness. I was mesmerized every moment he was on stage. His accent (which he kept throughout) was wonderful to listen to. [Note: Overall the cast, with the exception of Corbin and Provenzola, were lax in their accents. Good British diction is something one expects from Magenta players.]
All other performances were genuinely good, with one exception. Tim Klein was abysmal. I am sorry to say that, because I like him. He was fantastic in Slocum's "Greater Tuna" and wonderful playing multiple roles in a couple of Magenta shows. Actually, it's not so much his acting in that he seemed so out of place. Broad comedy seems to be his forte and Christie, while having a wry sense of humor, is not comedy. Either he was grossly miscast or the director couldn't reign him in--or both. I was truly jarred when he took to the stage with his bombastic mix of U.S. southern and cockney buffoonery. The performance did not fit at all and was way too over the top.
[The above was my initial reaction to the portrayal of Inspector Japp and it has been pointed out, by Tim Klein, that the role was portrayed exactly as he and the director intended and as was written by Christie. I have not read the work (so I cannot confirm that), but have seen the character (I believe wisely played down) in the BBC production. "Black Coffee" was Christie's first stage play and while she kept Poirot in subsequent plays, she dropped the Japp character (possibly because she realized he was too broadly written--writers DO learn and improve).
Regardless, had I directed the play, I would have done differently. Not because I am right, but because I am merely different. We all have the right to our opinion and interpretation. My apologies for the insinuations I made or seemed to have made that Klein was "miscast" or out of control. I don't believe, as I tried to say, that Tim Klein is a bad actor or that Amanda Goff is a bad director. I retract that insinuation and mean only to state that I didn't like their "take" on the character within the context of the other players.]
Still, the other performances and the overall production made the show delightful and well worth seeing.
Standout performances were given by Chipman, Eller, Corbin and, of course, Provenzola. Chipman was strong in his role and ruled the stage; Eller, sassy and commanding. Both are talented and accomplished actors.
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| Compare this TV character portrait to Provenzola above. |
However, I think it was Corbin, as the Italian Dr. Carelli, I most enjoyed. The flamboyant and oily character was perfectly played with just the right touch of comedy and shiftiness. I was mesmerized every moment he was on stage. His accent (which he kept throughout) was wonderful to listen to. [Note: Overall the cast, with the exception of Corbin and Provenzola, were lax in their accents. Good British diction is something one expects from Magenta players.]
All other performances were genuinely good, with one exception. Tim Klein was abysmal. I am sorry to say that, because I like him. He was fantastic in Slocum's "Greater Tuna" and wonderful playing multiple roles in a couple of Magenta shows. Actually, it's not so much his acting in that he seemed so out of place. Broad comedy seems to be his forte and Christie, while having a wry sense of humor, is not comedy. Either he was grossly miscast or the director couldn't reign him in--or both. I was truly jarred when he took to the stage with his bombastic mix of U.S. southern and cockney buffoonery. The performance did not fit at all and was way too over the top.
[The above was my initial reaction to the portrayal of Inspector Japp and it has been pointed out, by Tim Klein, that the role was portrayed exactly as he and the director intended and as was written by Christie. I have not read the work (so I cannot confirm that), but have seen the character (I believe wisely played down) in the BBC production. "Black Coffee" was Christie's first stage play and while she kept Poirot in subsequent plays, she dropped the Japp character (possibly because she realized he was too broadly written--writers DO learn and improve).
Regardless, had I directed the play, I would have done differently. Not because I am right, but because I am merely different. We all have the right to our opinion and interpretation. My apologies for the insinuations I made or seemed to have made that Klein was "miscast" or out of control. I don't believe, as I tried to say, that Tim Klein is a bad actor or that Amanda Goff is a bad director. I retract that insinuation and mean only to state that I didn't like their "take" on the character within the context of the other players.]
Still, the other performances and the overall production made the show delightful and well worth seeing.
Pleasing Production:
I found the production values to be quite pleasing. The show was well lit (lighting design by Elizabeth Tindall). The blocking and stage direction (by Amanda Goff) was good, and her set design was the best I have ever seen at Magenta--quite delightful and realistic. It was also dressed very nicely (by Michele Glover). It was impressive and detailed from stage right to stage left. Costumes (by Sheila McCormack), though good, were not necessarily kept period. Properties (by Magenta's Artistic Director, Jaynie Roberts) were also detailed.
Potential Patrons:
All shows are at the Magenta Theater (address and dates above). Advance Tickets are $12.00 - $15.00. For ticket reservations and/or information: www.magentatheater.com.
Review by Gregory E. Zschomler.
