The show “Enter Laughing” will have you exit laughing.
There are some truly funny moments in this Red Curtain Foundation production at Historic Everett Theatre.
When you are not laughing, you will be smiling or sitting in your seat amused by the witty dialogue and the clever back-and-forth on stage.
You would expect nothing less. After all, this is a story based on the semi-autobiographical memoirs of funny man Carl Reiner, who is still kicking at 88 and recently made a splash in the “Oceans” film series: “Ocean’s 11,” “Ocean’s 12” and “Ocean’s 13.”
The plot of “Enter Laughing” revolves around young David Kolowitz, who wants to be an actor but whose Jewish immigrant parents want him to be a druggist.
In his quest for the limelight, David entangles himself with a two-bit theater company and several women, all the while trying to juggle a full-time job and keep his stage passion a secret from his parents.
The laughs in “Enter Laughing” are produced mostly by the veteran actors in this comedy, doing a great job providing a strong, supportive frame for the other leading cast members, who are mostly young actors still in college.
Those veterans include Asa Sholdez, as David’s father, who could do Bronx Jewish guy like nobody’s business; Jennifer Michael, who played the put-upon, guilt-producing role of David’s mother to a frightening perfection; and Michael McFadden, who had some of the funniest lines as two-bit theater company director Marlowe: “Don’t leap in. You’re a gentleman, not a kangaroo.”
The young actors included Alex DeRoest as David’s friend Marvin, who along with Chrissy Kayatta (“Enter Laughing’s” Angela), are involved in Everett Community College’s theater program. Both have lots of potential and already finely tuned senses of comic timing.
Raquel Matlin gave a tidy performance as David’s steady girlfriend Wanda. Though still studying at Edmonds Community College, Matlin has acted for the last eight years and it shows.
Skyler Haines, who attends Trinity Lutheran College, played David. Haines was definitely challenged by this role, which called for an actor to be good enough on stage to play an actor who wasn’t any good on stage.
I blame opening night jitters for Haines’ overacting in certain scenes. With time, Haines will develop the confidence he needs to relax and let the comedy follow.
Another newcomer was first-time director Davine Sholdez, who gets applause for keeping this young cast in sync. Sholdez might have suffered from that disease new reporters also suffer from called “the notebook dump,” in which we are compelled to put everything we’ve written down in our notebooks into a news story.
This production had lots of scenes and scene changes and the show might have benefited from some editing and even some scene cutting — the cemetery scene comes to mind — making for a cleaner, crisper comedy that moved a little faster.
Still, I recommend “Enter Laughing” because you will laugh, and you will feel good knowing that you are supporting a crop of new young actors and a new promising director.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
“Enter Laughing”
8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 23 at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $15 and $12. Call 425-258-6766 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com.
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