A Review by Harrison Held
Audiences are in for a fun voyage and adventurous treat when they attend the unique & innovative play version of Around the World in 80 Days now playing as a guest production at the Matrix Theatre on Melrose. This very enjoyable and imaginative play version based on the well known novel by Jules Verne is well directed by Allison Bibicoff and presented by Lost Dog Productions following a successful run in 2013 in Long Beach.
Around the World in 80 Days, written for the stage by Mark Brown features a terrificly talented and appealing cast of five playing an unbelievable 39 colorful characters with great skill. Dour, wealthy British gentleman Phileas Fogg Esquire (well played by Thaddeus Shafer) bets the snobby members of his London club the substantial sum of 20,000 pounds that he can travel the globe in 80 days. Accompanying him is his adventurous, energetic, funny and likable new French butler Passepartout (talented Michael Uribes who also plays John Sullivan).
Along the way Phileas Fogg becomes the prime suspect in a shocking London bank robbery and is relentlessly pursued by bumbling Detective Fix (Brian Stanton who also shines playing 7 other characters). As the adventures continue Fogg engineers the daring rescue of a beautiful Indian woman (lovely Sujana Chand who doubles as 3 male characters). Talented Gabriel Oliva rounds out the cast playing an astounding 17 characters which is pretty unbelievable. The cast is great and was assembled by award winning casting director Michael Donovan. Kudos to the amazingly talented and hard working cast in this fun new production.
The airy set is simple but gorgeous and was designed by Chris Schmidt. Wonderful costumes by Kimberly DeShazo and great sound design and lighting design by Dave Mickey and R. Christopher Stokes respectively.
Listen to interviews with the actors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuAMscMXoWE
Around the World in 80 Days plays til October 9th and is well worth seeing. For more information visit www.Plays411.com/aroundtheword - Bon Voyage...
