Jordan Wright
September 27, 2018
“The whole damn history of the world is the struggle between the selfish and the unselfish,” pronounces Ed Devery, Harry Brock’s outlier attorney. It was this line from Born Yesterday that put playwright Garson Kanin square in the sights of Senator Joe McCarthy during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings. Described by the Roman Catholic Press as “Marxist satire’, Kanin wrote it as a frothy comedy with a powerful message. One as relevant today as it was 68 years ago.
Under the astute direction of Aaron Posner, Kanin’s witty comedy enjoyed a sensational and timely revival last night. How could it miss with Edward Gero in the leading role as Harry Brock, the crooked, vote-buying, junkyard magnate? When I wondered how Gero could segué so seamlessly from his recent award-winning role as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in The Originalistto a low-life conman from the other side of the law, he reminded me, “They are both from New Jersey.” Ah well, so are the best tomatoes. Both plays are set in Washington, DC with plenty of references to bribery and corruption, making it delightfully engaging for Beltway insiders.
Well-drawn characters are what give this comedy its undeniable spark. There’s Brock’s cousin, Eddie (Evan Casey) who is Ed Norton to Brock’s Jackie Gleason (if you remember that slapstick duo); Billie Dawn (Kimberly Gilbert), Brock’s gal, the intellectually-challenged ex-chorus girl who wises up with the help of Paul Verrall (Cody Nickell) the Reporter, Billie’s mentor and savior; and Ed Devery (Eric Hissom), Brock’s alcoholic lawyer and enforcer. Senator Norval Hedges (Todd Scofield) is Brock’s patsy.
Gero does a formidable job of being the tough guy, strong arming and buying his way to the top, but it’s Gilbert’s lightness and seamless twist from dumb blonde to smart cookie that command the most attention. The minions pinballing in and out of Brock’s orbit provide additional humor to this lively farce.
Casting Director, Patrick Pearson, has done a bang-up job of pairing of Gero with Gilbert who are hilarious in a gin game scene that has Billie squealing with delight as she picks up all Harry’s discards, beating him handily and showing she’s pretty good at keeping score, a fast learner, and even better at pegging Harry for setting her up.
Recommended for Beltway newshounds looking for an evening of political comic redemption.
With Matt Dewberry as A Bellhop/A Barber; Naomi Jacobsen as Mrs. Hedges/Helen/A Manicurist; and Jamie Smithson as The Assistant Manager/A Bootblack/ A Waiter.
Spectacular Set Design of a two-story, swank hotel suite by Daniel Lee Conway; Costume Design by Kelsey Hunt, Lighting Design by Nancy Schertler; Sound Design and Original Music by John Gromada.
Photo by Carol Rosegg.
Through October 21st at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets call 888 616.0270 or visit www.Fords.org.