By Anita Raymon
Theatre Time Productions is playing “A Shot in the Dark” at the First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone for all its laughs.
The comedy-mystery focuses on – what else? – a murder which has already taken place. The new magistrate, in the Paris district, begins his inquir, after the police investigation reports are received.
The prime suspect is Josefa, the parlor maid in the home of Benjamin Beaurevers, the wealthy banker and his wife. She was found naked and unconscious, with a .38 caliber gun clutched in her hand, and her lover's body on her bedroom floor. It looks like an open and shut case; the Chief Prosecutor, Lablache, wants a recommendation of guilt.
But once Josefa's interrogation is under way, the young magistrate begins to have doubts that Josefa Lantaney is the real murderer. How he sorts truth from fiction to find the guilty person, is the comedic, and dramatic, appeal of “A Shot in the Dark..”
Tara Palen as Josefa clearly enjoys her role as the naughty, talkative, parlor maid, who always manages to fall for a man – literally; she actually falls at their feet at an opportune moment!. She is a pert, pretty and vivacious character who doesn't allow the poor magistrate to keep to the subject at hand. She was having an affair with Ostos, the murdered chauffeur, yet refuses to answer questions which could prove her innocence. She exasperates the magistrate, because it is difficult for him to keep her on track. Her story changes constantly; she tells the magistrate, “Ostos was Spanish, extremely jealous, and often abused me. But I loved him!”
Jef Lawrence, a newcomer to Time Theatre, is a talented young man, who has a kindly manner, except when his frustrations become apparent. His struggle is to save Josefa from life in prison, for something, he believes, she didn't do. Above all, his job is to uphold the integrity of the law and reach a truthful conclusion
Morestan (Steven Callahan), the magistrate's clerk, has a dry wit and tosses off his sarcastic remarks at the witnesses, who arrive to answer the magistrate's questions. Callahan has appeared in musicals and plays and obviously enjoys this character.
Don Monaco (Benjamin Beaurevers) has the haughty, pompous air well-suited to his patrician banker family background. He, too, has some secrets, which are finally revealed, setting off another tangent of questioning by the magistrate. He looks elegant, and keeps his icy cool manner until he is caught off guard, and becomes an “ordinary man.” He finally admits that this allows him the “rejuvenation” that Josefa has to offer, especially since his wife is “descended from Atilla the Hun.”
His wife, Dominique is a prominent socialite, who hides her dark secrets from Beaurevers. Karen Palen-Ottomano acts the role of a Parisian aristocrat of the “ancient regime,” whose demeanor is one of elegance and wit. She loves horses, riding in the countryside with “friends” while her husband fills his time with other diversions.
Ray Palen Sr. plays the cigar-smoking, Chief Prosecutor, who admonishes the poor magistrate that he wants this case concluded in three days. He bullies Sevigne to do what has to be done. How would it look if the Beaurevers were pilloried in the press because of their parlor maid's guilt? Josefa is only an idiotic, empty-headed, country boy.
Dawn Marie Wood is quite believable as the magistrate's wife, Antoinette. Her burning curiosity about how the maid looks, leads her to interrupt her husband's interrogations of the witnesses on several occasions.
Tom Williams, the director, honors the Gaelic humor and wit in the play. He obviously enjoys his cast's performances.” A Shot in the Dark” is an entertaining, funny play. The humor is witty and the jokes go over well with the audience. The play is adapted from the French play, “L'Idiote” by Marcel Achard.
The husband and wife team of Judy and Kevin C. Vincent are the producers of “A Shot in the Dark,” and recruited an excellent director, Tom Williams, and talented stage managers, Abe Ber and Kristina Miller. Kevin is responsible for an elegant set design, carried out by a hard-working crew
Concluding performances of “A Shot in the Dark” are Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on April 1 at 4:30. Call Judy at 391-8697 for tickets and more information. The church is at 149th Street and 16th Avenue in Whitestone.
Theatre Time's next production is another comedy, “Room Service.” Auditions will be on May 14 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. for September performances.
Reach Qguide writer Anita Raymon by e-mail at timesledgr@aol.com., or call 229 0300, Ext. 139.
