THEATRE REVIEW: What The Bellhop Saw

This week’s trip to Millbrook Playhouse was to see a very funny bedroom farce in the Cabaret. The Cabaret theater is a converted milk barn that has been filled with tables and chairs and is always great fun even when the play is so-so. Theater goers take food and drink and the atmosphere is very informal. It makes for a friendly evening. Patrons have even been know to share samples of food with each other---and in some cases, with the actors.

Tonight we saw WHAT THE BELLHOP SAW and, believe me, that was a lot to see! The plot was typically “bedroom farce”.  A bellhop helps his mild-mannered brother into the best suite of the best hotel in the city in order to help the brother seduce his prim secretary.

Of course, the room has many, many doors, an irate neighbor, a maid in a very interesting costume, an author who is being targeted by a terrorist, a wronged wife who bears a striking resemblance to the terrorist…..well, you get the picture. There were a lot of people in and out of closets, bathrooms, the room next door, and in and out of windows high above the city. This type of play is dependent on the timing of the actors and this group never slowed down.

Marc de la Concha plays Wally, the bellhop, with all of the body moves we have come to expect from him. This is an actor who I predict will be well known in the theater world. I first saw him as Smee in Peter Pan at Millbrook. He went on to a national touring company as Snee and it is the perfect role for him. His professional credits keep growing.

Also notable was Hanna Botsford as Missy the maid- but- star- wannabe. One of the reasons Ms. Botsford is a stand out was her costume. (She has very good legs for a short girl.) All of the cast was good. One mistake would have ruined the rhythm of the show and if there were any made, I never noticed. I was too busy laughing.

It would appear that Millbrook Playhouse is going to have a very good season. I hope to see some of you there. If you go, share your experience with the rest of us. I love hearing from you.