Waterfront Playhouse this week opens “Around the World in 80 Days.” The family-friendly production runs through the holidays, offering a much-needed escape from holiday planning, squabbling relatives, high-maintenance houseguests or stale office parties. The play, written by Mark Brown and based on the classic novel, is directed by John McDonald and stars Nate Washburn as an explorer leading the charge to race around the globe in 80 days to win a bet.
As Phileas Fogg, Washburn propels the action with perfect delivery, playing the quintessential comedic straight man to the silliness swirling around him. A lion’s share of that silliness is delivered by Aaron Duclos, who provides the perfect foil in the character of Passepartout, the charming assistant to the gentleman Fogg. Duclos allows his character to cut loose with abandon as he dissolves into humorous situations at the mere offer of a free drink. Ross Pipkin gives the audience a classic 1800s sleuth: plenty of pomp and circumstance with the right amount of self-knowing winks. And Erin McKenna easily leaps from mustachioed gentleman to leading lady with her trademark charisma. Don Bartolone and Steve Miller round out the cast, playing, literally, every other character. They’re brandy-sipping aristocrats, train conductors and ship captains, waiters and Wild West frontiersmen. Bartolone slips into a priest’s frock and Miller barters over an elephant. And yet the two never visibly tire from the constant shifts or the physical comedy their roles demand. They are masters of farce, keeping the entire production flinging and flying forward with the necessary “pop.”
The production value of “Around the World…” is high. Set designer Michael Boyer resists the urge to recreate exotic locale after exotic locale, instead focusing on subtle pieces that perfectly convey the sepia-toned age of exploration that lives in our collective imagination. Leigh Hooten’s costume design reinforces a sense of place, as well as a moment in time. It’s such a classic and well-delivered atmosphere, it seems likely every well-dressed man in the audience will add a pocket watch to his Christmas list.
“Around the World in 80 Days” has all the trappings of perfect theatrical fare — luscious sets, a globe-trotting storyline and zany scenarios played out by talented comedic actors. Unfortunately, the play also suffers from a not-entirely-welcome sense of nostalgia. The original novel was first published in 1872. It’s unfair to assume that even at his most ego-driven moments, author Jules Verne would have anticipated his book being performed as a stage play nearly 150 years later, let alone predict all the cultural shifts that since have taken place. Unfortunately, that means that there are elements of colonial romanticism inextricably woven into the fabric of the piece that today could be considered culturally cringe-worthy: A wealthy white Westerner throws money at problems he encounters abroad while characters of varying ethnic descents are written as parodies.
Readers in the late 1800s hadn’t yet arrived at a place of questioning societal norms, but contemporary audiences can’t (and shouldn’t) ignore the societal slights and injustices that have shaped their worldview.
But that’s a comment on the play’s content, not the quality of the performances or overall production. There’s flash and dazzle aplenty to pull the audience into the action. McDonald directs the production with glee and palpable enthusiasm.
Anyone who grew up a fan of classic adventure tales, read Verne or watched “Indiana Jones” or “Jumanji” ad nauseam will welcome the chance to slip back into swashbuckling territory for a couple hours, while the other elements can be considered fodder for after-theater cocktails.
The arts, and live theater in particular, should prompt conversation and ask consumers to consider topics that need to be discussed. Go see “Around the World in 80 Days.” Enjoy it in all its candy-coated, adventure-time glory, while you cheer on talented performances and a deep sense of world-building. And then, after the final bow, be the responsible adult you are, and discuss the story’s nuances over eggnog.
“Around the World in 80 Days”
Now through Dec. 28
Shows at 8 p.m.
Tickets at waterfrontplayhouse.org or 305-294-5015
