Lend Me A Tenor at CPT

Last night I had the chance to see Lend Me A Tenor, the current production at CenterPoint Theatre, and it was so much fun.  Henry Saunders (Michael Hohl), the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, has invited the world-renowned tenor Tito Merelli (Dale Boam) to perform for one night only. He asks his assistant Max (Michael Gardner) to get Merelli to the opera house on time but, when Merelli is indisposed, he has to take drastic action. Add a jealous wife (Holly Reid), an ambitious diva (Kati Paul), a love-struck daughter (Katie Plott), a ditsy opera guild president (Laura Krummenacher), and an opera loving bellhop (Holden Smith) and hilarity ensues. It took a little while for this show to get going but, once it did, it was full of physical comedy and mistaken identity that had the audience howling with laughter. I especially enjoyed a scene where both Tito and Max, who is impersonating Tito, are entertaining women in the hotel suite and then the women inadvertently end up with different Titos. The set, which features a hotel sitting room and bedroom with a connecting door (which are both visible to the audience), is fantastic and really adds to the action as Tito and Max run in and out while slamming doors. The costumes are also a lot of fun, especially the opera guild president's dress ("You look like the Chrysler building!") and the costume Tito (and Max!) wears as Othello. The cast has great comedic timing, particularly Gardner who has great facial expressions as the overwrought Max. As an opera fan, I really enjoyed the arias used at the end of scenes because the subject mimics the action. I'm sure most audience members didn't catch on but I laughed out loud when Mozart's "Lacrimosa" played after Tito is presumed dead!  I recommend this hilarious show for a fun night out (go here for tickets).