A Trainload of Laughs on the Twentieth Century at RVP

LEFT TO RIGHT, ALLISON PELTZ, AS IDA WEBB; DALE CAMDEN AS OSCARE JAFFEE AND JENNIFER REIMER AS LILY GARLAND, ARE ABOUT TO BOARD THE ROSS VALLEY PLAYER'S 20TH CENTURY.

As one enters the theatre at Ross Valley Players, a large-scale model of the 20th Century Limited and a diorama created by Images of the Past Railroad Modeling Company is immediately on display. To further enhance the mood, authentic period recordings from the 30's were introduced by Director Billie Cox.  Cox is also a great sound designer.  The music in the show, as well as pre-show and intermission music, included music by Louis Armstrong, Red Nichols, Eddie Cantor, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Durante, Bob Crosby and the Bobcats and, as curtain call, Al Jolson.

It is most interesting to compare this production of this play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, (which was based on a play by Charles Bruce Millholland), in a new adaptation by Ken Ludwig with a production of the musical On the Twentieth Century, with book and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden and music by Cy Coleman which was staged at Novato Theater Company last October. The story was basically the same with gender changes and a different ending.  

The Ross Valley Players' production of Twentieth Century is as fast-paced as the repartee of the famous luxury train itself.  Ken Ludwig's adaptation is reminiscent of the 1934 movie starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard when a cast of characters plot to rescue a director's failing theater career. 

Directed by Billie Cox and produced by Karen Laffey, Twentieth Century is based on a legendary, eccentric, Broadway producer.  Oscar Jaffe (Dale Camden) must convince his former leading lady Lili Garland (Jennifer Reimer) once a chorus girl and now a Hollywood starlet, to return to Broadway for his upcoming show. 

The entire play takes place aboard the luxurious 20th Century Limited from Chicago to New York City in 1938.  The fabulous set is by Ken Rowland with beautiful costumes for Lili Garland by Michael A. Berg.  

Under Billie Cox's imaginative direction, the entire cast has a spirit of camaraderie as well as excellent playing energy and comic timing. 

Twentieth Century plays from March 23-April 22 at Ross Valley Players.   Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. All performances take place at Ross Valley Players' Barn Theatre, Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross.  For reservations, call 415-456-9555, extension 1 or go online at www.rossvalleyplayers.com.

Coming up next at Ross Valley Players will be The Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams and directed by Chris Cassell, May 18-June 17, 2012.

Flora Lynn Isaacson