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Parsi (Michael Gene Sullivan, center) and his elephant give a lift to (from left) Phileas Fogg (Jason Kuykendall), Passepartout (Tristan Cunningham), and Sir Francis (Ron Campbell). (Photo by Kevin Berne) |
Versatile acting is on full display in TheatreWorks
Silicon Valley’s production of “Around the World in 80 Days.”
Directed by Robert Kelley, four of the cast’s five
actors play an array of characters of varied ages, sexes and nationalities as
Phileas Fogg (Jason Kuykendall) undertakes his epic journey in 1872.
In Mark Brown’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s’ novel, the
journey starts with a bet at Fogg’s club in London. Newly opened links make the
80-day feasible, figures the cool, math-minded Fogg. He’s joined by his French
valet, Passepartout (Tristan Cunningham).
They’re shadowed by Detective Fix (Michael Gene
Sullivan), who believes that the free-spending Fogg is the notorious gentleman
bank robber. In India, Fogg and Passepartout rescue a woman, Aouda (Ajna Jai),
from execution by fire. She then joins them.
Beset by travails, they travel by boat, train,
elephant and even sail-driven snow sledge (but not the hot air balloon seen in
the film) on their way to a happy ending for all concerned.
Cunningham, Sullivan and Jai play many other
characters, but the most roles go to Ron Campbell, a master of accents and
quick changes.
These changes by him and his colleagues are aided by
B. Modern’s attractive, often ingenious costumes. Campbell has the one drawing
the biggest laughs when, portraying an official welcoming the travelers to
Liverpool, England, he resembles John Lennon from the Beatles’ “Sergeant
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album cover.
Adding to the fun are the inventive sets (the
elephant is a work of whimsy in itself) by Joe Ragey, complemented by Steven B.
Mannshardt’s lighting and Cliff Caruthers’ sound.
Although the overall acting is impressive, one
drawback is that some accents are hard to understand. Projection could be
better at times, too.
Otherwise, this is a great way to get into the
holiday spirit.
Running about two hours with one intermission, “Around
the World in 80 Days” will continue
through Dec. 31 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
For tickets and information, call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.
