Waynesville – Do you love comedy? What type of comedy do you love? What type gets into your very core and makes you laugh from a place you can’t fully explain?
Chances are, whatever makes you giggle, chuckle, or deep belly laugh, you’ll find it in HART’s new production of The Gods of Comedy.
From wit so sharp it could slice a tomato, to wild slapstick, to biting sarcasm, to subtle innuendo, to all-out physical comedy, director Erin McCarson and this seasoned cast and crew were able to unearth every morsel and variety of humor that could be found in all the lines and spaces of this script. Each actor threw themselves into every moment with such trust and fervor that we in the audience got the “laughter as exercise” workout of our lives.
The all-star ensemble is comprised of Dwight Chiles, Lauren Otis, Quinn Terry, Zachary Hamrick, Lynda Lewis, Audrey Savitt, and Graham Livenwood. Comedy is hard. Being a great comedian requires truth, observation, and a great deal of skill. Top to bottom, these actors have it in spades.
Ken Ludwig’s script tells the story of a pair of scholars who invoke the gods to help them locate an ancient, lost manuscript. McCarson, with the cast and crew, elevates this story beyond funny to hysterical heights. Still, layered throughout the silliness—the surprising wide-eyed ingenue, the hero with a twist, the man-child God—were unexpected delights. Deeper meanings intertwined through all the absurdity like a kudzu vine. As I talked with McCarson after the show and while driving home, those aspects kept growing in my brain, as fast as that notorious plant. For one, I realized that hidden below the over-the-top glee was a message of hope. A missive entreating the audience to find joy in the unexpected. A love letter to silly hearts and child-like wonder.
Just as the masterpiece of a set (designed by McCarson) changes and evolves with the characters, the play itself reminds us to embrace change and evolve for the better! Things may not always work out as we intended them to, but that doesn’t mean we should just give up. Instead, maybe the better way forward is to embrace the chaos and make new goals. Change will happen, but we can decide how we move through it. Who knew a farce could be so poignant?
This delightful romp was supported by outstanding light design by Abby Auman, costume design by Amanda McLoughlin, and sound design by Dakota Mann.
I left the theater feeling a little like Hermes. with wings on my shoes. This play left me with a big smile, a warm heart, and the inspiration to find the jubilant euphoria in the world around us. I love seeing a show that gives me that magical feeling.
This is definitely a show that I want to see again. And it’s most certainly one that you don’t want to miss!
Make your plans now to see this production of The Gods of Comedy at HART. Shows are June 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th, and 29th at 7:30 p.m., and June 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 2 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found at HartTheatre.org or by calling 828-456-6322.