NBindy_11.25.22 | Page 3

newportbeachindy . com NOVEMBER 25 , 2022 3

STEPPING OUT

Murder Mystery Farce ‘ Drop Dead !’ at Newport Theatre Arts Center is Frantic and Silly

the season

OF GIFTING

A FEW OF HER FAVORITE THINGS
Alexander McQueen • Balenciaga Bottega Veneta • Chanel • Christian Louboutin Coach • Diesel • Dior • Fendi • Gucci Hoka • Intermix • Isabel Marant • Jimmy Choo Kate Spade New York • Lafayette 148 New York Maje • Monique Lhuillier • Oscar de la Renta Saint Laurent • Salvatore Ferragamo • Sandro Valentino • Weekend Max Mara
“ Drop Dead ” cast : ( seated , left to right ) John Vann , Mary Price Moore , Yvonne Robertson , Justine DeAngelo , Ian MacGregor . Standing , left to right : Paul Burt , Bobby D . Lux , Jon Korbonski , Jack Millis and MarcAntonio Murillo / photo by Charles Weinberg
By Eric Marchese | Special to the NB Indy
Comedies that take us behind the scenes of a production wring laughs by showing us the difficulties of putting on a play . Most theater lovers would correctly regard “ Noises Off ” and the more recent “ Curtains ,” a hybrid of backstage musical comedy and murder mystery , as among the best of this genre .
“ Drop Dead !” was co-written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore in 1991 . “ Noises Off ” had been around for nine years , already widely praised , so “ Drop Dead !” could have been its playwrights ’ answer to it , homage to it , or their attempt to replicate its brilliance and success .
If only the part farce , part murder mystery could have scaled the zany heights of “ Noises Off ,” Newport Theatre Arts Center would have a huge hit on its hands . Alas , it would take a considerable overhaul for it to even begin to resemble the earlier masterpiece .
Things start out with a nowfamiliar scenario : We ’ re watching the frantic efforts of a troupe of thespians as they bungle their way through the final rehearsal of a new murder mystery called “ Drop Dead !” that ’ s 24 hours away from opening at “ a small , shabby , underfunded and poorly staffed theater somewhere in New York .”
Based on their struggles , it ’ s clear the troupers are far from ready for an opening night . Director Gregory Cohen ’ s cast deliberately overplays the ineptitude of the six actors as they ’ re stymied by dialogue , blocking , stage direction and props .
As such , we quickly see that the “ Drop Dead !” being staged within “ Drop Dead !” is a dire disaster rife with cringe-worthy amateur theatrics , missed cues , botched special effects and the like .
Creating more of a pressure cooker for its hapless , helpless half-dozen are Victor Le Pewe ( Jack Millis ), a oncefamed Broadway director now on the downside of his career ; P . G . Banks ( Paul Burt ), the bellicose producer who spews insults at Le Pewe and his cast ; and the play ’ s author , Alabama Miller ( Ian MacGregor ), whose Tennessee Williams-like name indicates his artistic aspirations and concomitant pretensions .
The only person above reproach is Phillip ( MarcAntonio Murillo ), the stressed , overworked aide to Le Pewe who ’ s selflessly determined to please those in charge and help the thespians by giving them whatever they need .
About a quarter of the way into NTAC ’ s staging , we get the point that the play within the play is doomed . At this point , both the show they ’ re staging and the play framing it drop dead , as Van Zandt and Milmore ’ s contrived script seeks ways to intertwine its various elements into a plausible second act .
Just before intermission , and in much the same fashion as the later ( and more brilliant ) “ Curtains ,” a key character is murdered , an event that starts a backstage killing spree that blows the minds , frays the nerves and traumatizes a company already frazzled dealing with an offstage murder of the play they ’ re in .
This inventive plot thread goes part of the way toward redeeming the evening – just not far enough .
In all fairness to playwrights Van Zandt and Milmore , show-biz parodies – at least , those that are worthy
THEATRE Page 4
GIFTS THAT SPARKLE & SHINE
A . Lange & Söhne • Audemars Piguet Breitling • Buccellati • Bvlgari • Cartier Chanel Fine Jewelry • Chopard • David Yurman Harry Winston • IWC • Jaeger-LeCoultre Mikimoto • Omega • Pandora • Panerai Patek Philippe • Piaget • Swarovski Tag Heuer • Tiffany & Co . • Tourneau • Tudor Vacheron Constantin • Van Cleef & Arpels
FESTIVE FINDS FOR THEIR STOCKINGS
Hallmark • Läderach Chocolatier Suisse Nectar Bath Treats • Paper Source See ’ s Candies • Sock Harbor • Spongellé Squishable • Sugarfina • The Wrapper
HAUTE HOME & HOST
Anthropologie • Baccarat • Camilla Casper • CB2 • Crate & Barrel Diptyque • Frette • Louis Vuitton Lovesac • Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Please Do Not Enter • Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Kids • RH • Sur La Table West Elm • Williams Sonoma
Holiday Gift Guides :
SAN DIEGO FWY ( 405 ) AT BRISTOL ST . 800.782.8888 SOUTHCOASTPLAZA . COM @ SouthCoastPlaza
# HolidaysWithSCP