Pardon My Dust
The Laundry on Lawrence: through April 6
And Toto too Theatre Company is presenting the regional
premiere of “Pardon My Dust” by Anne Welsbacher at The Laundry on Lawrence
through April 6. It’s a two-person play about renowned theatre critic Dorothy
Parker that features two of Denver’s finest actors:Billie McBride and Paul
Page. McBride plays Parker who arrives at a “way station” after her death with lots of baggage.
Paul Page plays the guide in the after life
who prompts Parker to come to completion with the way she views herself in
order for her to er move on. Page
also plays numerous other males who figured prominently in the late critic’s
life.
It’s an interesting concept and if you don’t know the very
famous rhyming witticisms of the late great writer you may like this piece more
than this reviewer did. However … most of Parker’s bon mots are so familiar one
could speak them before the actors do.
This is not to say that there is not much to be mined in a
rewrite, which could eventually prove to be the mother lode.
One wishes that the playwright might have chosen one
specific time in Parker’s life to reminisce about and illuminate. As it stands
the play jumps around from male friend to male friend and experience to
experience until one grows tired of following it.
This reviewer wanted either more of a focus on the experience of the Algonquin Round Table or on Parker's gripes about the unfairness
of the way Hollywood producers treated screenwriters.
At the risk of being redundant one must reitierate that it would seem that playwright Welsbacher has a good idea,
which after a re-write or two could just turn into a really wonderful play. At
this point though it’s not ready for prime time.
Go anyway and support Ms. Welsbacher and And Toto too Theatre Company. Susan Lyles directs.
At the Laundry on Lawrence, curtain time
7:30, p.m. every Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat. until April 6
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