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Triumph for Triumph
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Massey, Espinosa, Glaudini
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By Rob Stevens
Q: What do you get when you mix classic French farce with the Broadway musical?
A: Triumph of Love
Q: What do you get when you put seven talented musical comedy pros and a top-of-his-form director together with the previous answer?
A: A triumph for Performance Riverside.
James Magruder’s book for the musical is based on the original farce by Marivaux and features a young princess conning her way into an isolated garden to win the love of a young man she saw there one day. The garden is the property of the a celibate philosopher and his maiden sister. They want no distractions in their private world, especially from the female sector. This prompts the princess and her maid to dress as men (shades of countless Shakespeare plays) and the deceptions begin. Complications arise as the princess has to woo the philosopher and his sister in order to gain permission to stay in the garden and thereby woo her man. She soon has four identities and also finds out the man she loves has sworn to kill her true identity and resume his proper place on her throne. All of this is done at breakneck speed and in perfect Commedia dell’Arte style under the sly direction of farce maestro Gary Krinke.
The songs (music by Jeffrey Stock, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead), such as "The Sad and Sordid Saga of Cecile" only add to the fun. The cast is a splendid mix of able farceurs with high caliber musical theater voices. As Princess Leonide, Misty Cotton carries the show on her slender and very capable shoulders. She easily segues from lovestruck ingenue to clever manipulator. And what a voice! Paul Green, as her intended Agis, plays the sheltered student of life very well. His inexperience is no match for her determination. The trio of henchman--Eden Espinosa as Leonide’s maid Corine, Steve Glaudini as the Harlequin, and John Massey, Jr. as the gardener Dimas could give the three stooges a run for their money. Except this trio has brains and wile to go along with their comic hijinks.
Rounding out the cast are two pros at the top of their game. As the haughty Hermocrates, Michael G. Hawkins struts like a peacock, even after he’s been plucked. Debbie Prutsman’s severe Hesione melts into a wanton wanna-be once afflicted with the love bug. These two mine all the comic possibilities in their roles.
Triumph of Love, produced by Steven A. Glaudini for Performance Riverside at Landis Auditorium, 4800 Magnolia Ave. in Riverside. (909} 222-8100. $22-26. Fri-Sat, 8; Sun, 2. Closes Nov. 18
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