Carson Elrod in Taking Steps. Photo by Daniel Rader
by Mark G. Auerbach
Alan Ayckbourn’s farce Taking Steps, currently on the boards at Barrington Stage, could shake the company’s Boyd-Quinson Mainstage off its foundation, as the non-stop laughs–not the polite titters, but the full-size belly laughs convulse the audience for the entire duration of the play. Sam Buntrock directs the door-slamming, double-takes, sight gags, and lunacy at breakneck pace on Jason Sherwood’s imaginative set, and the sextet of actors mine every line and situation for every ounce of humor possible. Taking Steps is just hilarious.
Alan Ayckbourn’s name may be less familiar to American audiences, but the prolific playwright and director has created more than seventy plays since 1972. Ten of his plays have crossed the pond to Broadway, winning him one Tony Award, and two Tony nominations.
The cast of Taking Steps. Photo by Daniel Rader
Ayckbourn’s farce, set in 1979 in a rundown country house with a lascivious past, brings a sextet of off-center characters together. Elizabeth, a former dancer, engages the help of her brother, Mark, to help her flee from her pompous husband, Roland, who is negotiating to buy the houe from his landlord Leslie. A lawyer, Tristram, comes to the estate with the purchase and sale agreement. Meanwhile, Mark’s former fiance, Kitty is hiding in the attic. Jason Sherwood’s set cleverly places all three stories of the house on one level, and Buntrock’s choreography for characters moving up and down the levels is simply hysterical. Smartly attired in Jennifer Caprio’s costumes, with superb lighting by David Weiner, the sextet of actors move like a syncopated clock in tandem, never missing a beat, and each of them blend smoothly into an ensemble, yet maintain their own individuality of character.
Helen Cespedes in Taking Steps. Photo by Daniel Rader
Carson Elrod as Tristram, was my favorite character and performance, with an awkward and fumbling presence that got laiugh at every entrance. I also liked Claire Brownell’s portrayal of ex-dancer Elizabeth. The other castmates, Helen Cespedes, Matthew Greer, Richard Hollis, and Luke Smith were all terrific, and it was fun to see Smith, a major presence in last season’s production of American Son, take on a completely different character.
Your sides will ache after spending time with Taking Steps, which is the laugh fest of the summer. Taking Steps runs through August 5.
Barrington Stage Company presents Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Sam Buntrock.. Scenic design by Jason Sherwood. Costume design by Jennifer Caprio.. Lighting design by David Weiner. Sound design by Joel Abbott. Cast: Claire Brownell, Helen Cespedes, Carson Elrod, Matthew Greer, Richard Hollis, and Luke SmithThrough August 5… Barrington Stage Company’s Boyd-Quinson Mainstage.., Pittsfield, MA. 413-236-8888 or www.barringtonstageco..org
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB Radio.
