The Fox on the Fairway - Music Theatre of Connecticut

The playwright Ken Ludwig is a master of farce, and his zany comedy, The Fox on the Fairway, is receiving a spirited production at the Music Theater of Connecticut.  There are twists and turns layered upon more twists and turns.  An innocuous reference early in the show becomes a key point later on in the play.  What seems implausible becomes possible.  The storyline?  I don’t want to reveal too much so as not to spoil the fun.  Simply, the plot revolves around the annual golf tournament between two country clubs.  A sizeable bet between the two clubs’ Executive Directors becomes the catalyst for the fun and silliness that emerges.

Josh Powell and Ted Gibson in The Fox on the Fairway.

Director Amy Griffin embraces the farcical nature of the show with slamming doors, physical humor, fast pacing, and romantic folly.  Even with all the absurdity and dashing about, she effectively keeps the cast from going overboard in their characterizations.  The humor comes more from the continuously changing situations than the histrionics of the cast.  Sean Sanford’s unpretentious tap room Scenic Design, with its numerous doorways and tactically placed furniture, is just right for all the shenanigans that take place in the show.  Jon Damast’s strategically inserted Sound Design contributes greatly to the folly.

Josh Powell and Missy Dowse in The Fox on the Fairway.

The ensemble is all in for the merriment, playing their characters with a self-assured effervescence.  Whether they are called upon to roll on the floor, jump on the furniture, smash a P.A. system, or chase (or be chased) around the set or down the aisles, the cast is up to the challenge.  Josh Powell, a frequent performer on Connecticut stages, is splendid as the perpetually flummoxed Mr. Bingham, the head of one country club.  Sean Hanlon, is perfect as Dickie, the arrogant, pretentious leader of the rival club.  Fresh-faced Ted Gibson gives an exuberant performance as the naïve, inexperienced Justin, the newly hired assistant to Mr. Bingham.  His fiancée, the waitress Louise, is played with bravado, charm, and a touch of desperation by Erin M. Williams.  Missy Dowse, enticingly imbues the character of Pamela, Treasurer at Mr. Bingham’s club, former wife of Dickie, with a sultry playfulness and calculating swagger.  Anette Michelle Sanders is ideal as the strident and shrill Muriel, wife of Mr. Bingham.

Sean Hanlon and Anette Michelle Sanders in The Fox on the Fairway.

The Fox on the Fairway,  a riotous time at the theater, playing at the Music Theater of Connecticut through November 23.  Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.