“Philosophus” by Colin Speer Crowley and directed by Stan Levin is presently being performed by the Best Medicine Rep Theater Company at the Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg.
The play is a farce that centers of the French philosopher, Voltaire (Terence Aselford) in the year 1753 in the part of Germany, then known as Prussia. Specifically, he is in Frankfort and on the run from the King of Prussia, Frederick. There is some truth to this tale. Frederick and Voltaire did have a friendship that lasted a few years and the Frenchman even lived at the Prussian court. Frederick is thought to have had mostly homosexual romantic attachments, but not with Voltaire who was a womanizer. Frederick did write poetry. Voltaire did have niece Madame Denis with whom he had a romance but not in Prussia.
Voltaire is accompanied by his “man” Collini (Terence Heffernan), who is obviously, Italian. Both the philosopher and Collini have stolen a manuscript of poetry written Frederick that the king wants back. Chasing Voltaire and Collini is Baron Franz Von Freytag (John Morogiello). Von Freytag is pompous, as is Voltaire, and is the stereotypical German officer, all full of himself with little real insight. He is accompanied by a soldier named Dorn. Dorn and Collini are played by the same actor and that, of course, adds to the mayhem. Voltaire in his effort to hide runs into Frau Schmidt (Rebecca A. Herron), another stereotype, this of the German hausfrau. She is both physically and mentally unyielding. Finally, when you add Voltaire’s voluptuous and h***y niece, Mademoiselle Denis (Khaleshia Thorpe-Price), you have the idea.
The script is a cross between Mel Brooks (“Young Frankenstein”) and the Marx Brothers (“Duck’s Soup”). If you love the ridiculous and lots of double entendres, you will have a good time at this production.
Best Medicine Rep Theater Company proves you can have theater anywhere and make it work. It is the extra efforts that they took, for example, the set and the costumes, and having actors who have a great sense of comedy, that make this play work.
Aselford captures the philosopher, Voltaire, as he is envisioned by Crowley. He is witty, pompous and self-absorbed. His dreams of liberty are only secondary to his own ego. There is a prologue at the beginning in which Aselford sets the mood for the mayhem that will ensue.
Heffernan playing the dual roles does well from just keeping these characters from going over the top. As the sexually stimulated Dorn, he is just lecherous enough with the young Mademoiselle to keep us all laughing.
John Morogiello is quite comical as the Baron. Again, it is hard to make the character seem real, but Morogiello does it as well as you can.
Herron’s Frau Schmidt also is really only one dimensional, but the actress’ timing is excellent and makes us believe she is the character.
Thorpe-Price is very sexy as Mme. Denis. Again, she shows excellent comic timing as she lusts after almost everything in pants.
The set and lights were designed by John Morogiello. He kept things simple and tidy which worked nicely in this small theater. Elizabeth Kemmerer’s costumes were superior and reflected the time and place expertly.
Levin’s direction also helped keep the pace up. Scene changes were made seamlessly and the actors all understood how to do farce.
Best Medicine Rep Theater Company proves you can have theater anywhere and make it work. It is the extra efforts that they took, for example, the set and the costumes, and having actors who have a great sense of comedy, that make this play work.
Running Time: One Hour and 45 minutes.
Advisory: Adult language and situations may make this unsuitable for young children.
“Philosophus” runs until Feb. 24, 2019, at the Best Medicine Theater Company, 701 Russell Avenue, Suite H205, Gaithersburg, MD. (Second Floor of Lakeforest Mall, enter by Ruby Tuesday’s) For more information and for tickets to see Philosophus please visit the Best Medicine Rep Theater Company website by clicking here.
