THE DRAMA STUDIO

presents

Tom Jones

AN ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC

HENRY FIELDING NOVEL

 April 1, 2, 3, & 8, 9, 10, 2011

Reviewed by Donna Bailey-Thompson

Naughty & Bawdy & So Much Fun!

The Drama Studio has done it again – another hit play. Tom Jones, a rollicking adaptation of the Henry Fielding novel, is every bit as hilarious as the 1963 movie starring Albert Finney. Mistaken identities, licentious behavior, skullduggery, simple lies and convoluted masterpieces, create one laugh after another. Really. I kid you not.

“The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling”, was written in 1749. That is not a typo: 1*7*4*9. Its adaptation by playwright David Rogers has left out nothing to mourn. Indeed, at one juncture, the story’s guide, Partridge (wryly intoned by Quinn Hebarty) speaks of 100 or so pages that have been skipped over as judicious editing. Director Steve Hays’ sense of comedic timing has imbued the cast of 20+ odd characters (and some are quite odd) with shrugs or twitches or such total acceptance of the character they’re playing that their body language speaks what the tongue does not. Up is down and down is up make total sense. If the audience becomes a tad scattered, the merriment is magnified. In Act 2, the lodging proprietor, Mrs. Whitefield (played to the hilt by Rebecca Paul), makes an agitated entrance overflowing with such high dudgeon frustration that the audience’s laughter swells her sails.

In18th century merrie olde England, especially the country folk in Fielding’s writing, have turned eccentricity into an art form. What’s usually sacred is not and vice versa, especially when blood ties are involved. Case in point: our hero, Tom Jones when newly born, is discovered on the pillow of the pleasingly self-self-righteous Squire Allworthy (played with throw-away charm by Phillip Isermann). The suspected mother, Mrs. Waters (gloriously naughty Maeve Gormley) is banished for her apparent sinful behavior.

The wee babe matures into Tom Jones (Jacob Mueller plucked from central casting), a good-natured, guileless, healthy young man with an appreciative eye for the fairer sex (age not important); but for all of his tomfoolery, he’s heartsick for only one – sweet, demure Sophia Western (Danielle Lessard) who becomes a spitfire when papa Squire Western (Ken Guerin, appropriately sexist) demands she wed Blifil, every romantic girl’s nightmare (Ariel Rothberg, as an oily dolt).

In Act 2, a French farce takes over – split-second timing, slamming doors, orchestrated mayhem – all the while thickening the plot. Thanks to a brief intermission, a refreshed audience is ready for more comedic high jinks in Act 3 and laughs it way to the ultimate slaphappy ending.

This spirited production features current students and returning alumni all of whom reflect the Drama Studio’s high professional standards. Costume Designer Greta Breglio-Redman has created yards of costumes skimming buckled shoes and crowned by elaborate wigs. One can almost inhale England’s sweet country air and London’s opposite. Technical Director Craig Milne’s contributions are invisible as are Stage Manager Rachel Gallagher’s, age 14.

The final performances of this delightful play are this coming weekend
April 8, 9,10, 2011.

Friday at 7:30PM; Saturday at 7:30PM; and Sunday at 6:30PM

with an additional matinee on Sunday April 10 at 3PM.

Tickets for all DS productions are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Reservations are encouraged due to the Drama Studio’s intimate size (63 seats). The Drama Studio accepts VISA and Master Card charges. Parking is available on both sides of Oakland Street at performance times. For additional information, please contact

Jane Schneeloch or Janet Richards at (413) 739-1983.

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THE CAST

Gentlemen of the Company

Partridge -- Quinn Hegarty

Squire Allworthy --Phillip Isermann

Blifil -- Ariel Rothberg

Tom Jones - Jacob Mueller

Thwackum -- Austin Yelinek

Square -- Lukas McNamara

Squire Western -- Ken Guerin

Justice Dowling -- Jacob Bennett

Mr. Fitzpatrick -- Jason Clark

Doctor/Highwayman -- Steve Osgood

Constable/Capt. Blifil -- Peter Paleologopoulos

Ladies of the Company

Bridget Allworthy -- Cori Barnes

Mrs. Waters -- Maeve Gormley

Sophia Western -- Danielle Lessard

Miss Western -- Amy Sackman

Honou, Sophia's Maid -- Phoebe Olin

Harriet Fitzpatrick -- Sarah Etkin

Mrs. Whitefield -- Rebecca Clark

Susan, a maid -- Adaire Robinson, Emily Walthouse

Lady Bellaston -- Adaire Robinson, Emily Walthouse

Nancy, Lady Bellaston's maid -- Tiersen Willette-Lopez

Deborah, the Allworthy's maid -- Caroline Novak