You’ll crack up laughing at Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s latest production, Wake Up, Darling.
The story focuses on a young couple, Don and Polly Emerson. He’s a would-be playwright and she’s a would-be actress, both of questionable talent (unlike the actors who play them—they’re definitely talented). In the opening scene, Polly bursts onstage with the news that she’s got her big break: the starring role in a new Broadway musical. There’s just one problem: The playwright/composer, Deerfield Prescott, is madly in love with her, and will stop at nothing to “steal” her away from her husband.
Alex Gottlieb’s script—with its candid talk about affairs, divorce, alcohol, and other matters—must have seemed pretty racy when the play was first performed in 1956. Perhaps that’s why, with just a few minor changes (like a line about why Don prefers typewriters to computers), it seems perfectly at home in a contemporary setting.
What makes the show win our hearts as well as our funnybones is that, despite their comically exploitable foibles, all the characters are still likable. The play also has at least a slight undercurrent of seriousness running through the zaniness, exploring how Don and Polly’s career ambitions are getting in the way of their marriage.
As Don, Richard Lonsbury’s comical exasperation is reminiscent of Ricky Ricardo’s, as is his expression when he walks through the door and is suddenly faced with a wacky situation. He’s great with biting sarcasm, and also shows a flair for physical comedy in a scene in which he tries to get comfortable while sleeping on a couch.
Lacey Morgan makes a sweet, wide-eyed ingénue as Polly. She shows that the woman truly loves her husband, but at the same time can’t help being flattered by the attention from Deerfield.
We can’t help but sympathize with Deerfield, a guy fresh out of college who has never had any experience with women. Benjamin Oh takes on the nasal voice and meek mannerisms one would expect of an archetypal “nerd” (reinforced by his thick-rimmed glasses and sweater vest). However, his love of Polly and desperation for romance always seem sincere. He and Don share some hilarious verbal sparring matches. At one point, Deerfield criticizes the single line he read of Don’s play—“What are you doing standing in front of that closet if there’s no one in it?” saying, “It drags a little.”
The Emersons’ lives—particularly Don’s—are further complicated by the arrival of Polly’s old school chum Gloria (or, as Don describes her, “her poison pen pal”). Recovering from her “latest divorce,” Gloria takes up residence in the master bedroom, forcing Don to return to that oh-so-comfortable couch. Dahmen once again excels as a wealthy, worldly woman, a role she’s played in several past SMCT productions. As always, she looks good in a mink coat.
Gary Prober turns up later as Deerfield’s eminent father, Granville Prescott. We hear Deerfield describe him for much of the play, and Prober lives up to our expectations. His gruff, straightforward reading of lines like, “Thank goodness we have a free press—they’ve distorted the story beautifully!” is just right.
Sydney Asencio, Iain Freckleton, and David Bathe all add greatly to the production in their small but important roles as an admirer of Deerfield’s named Penelope, and a pair of cops, respectively.
All of the characters get sharp, witty dialogue to speak, but some of the best lines go to the Emersons’ sardonic maid, Juliet (Cathy De Laurentis), and Don’s drunken, man-hungry typist, Martha (Jo Grande Welsh). De Laurentis and Welsh take full advantage of this, and get some of the biggest laughs in the play. Their timing with all those lightning-quick quips and sly asides is perfect.
SMCT previously put on this play during its 1967-’68 season; in that production, Welsh performed the role of Polly, while Director Meg Smith played Martha.
Smith returns to SMCT after a 15-year hiatus to direct this production. Her intimate knowledge of the material and her great experience in the theater shine through all aspects of it. She’s also credited with co-designing the realistic and nicely detailed set with her son, Bryn Smith (who also oversaw set construction). In the program, Meg states that this may be her “last hurrah” at SMCT, which she and her husband Tom founded 50 years ago. Perhaps this is part of why the cast and crew give their all to make Wake Up, Darling so wonderfully entertaining.
Brent Parker gives his all in every review he writes. Send comments to Arts Editor Shelly Cone at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2009.
