Palo Alto Players stages laugh-filled farce, 'The Cottage'

From left: Steve Allhoff as Beau, Brandon Silberstein as Clarke, Michelle Skinner as Marjorie and Kate McGrath as Sylvia. (Scott Lasky photo)

Infidelity and sibling rivalry are just two of the issues arising in Sandy Rustin’s “The Cottage,” presented by Palo Alto Players.

This laugh-filled farce takes place in an English countryside cottage in 1923. As it opens, Sylvia (Kate McGrath) and Beau (Steve Allhoff), both of them married to other people, are preparing for their once-a-year tryst.

However, complications pile up with each sharp knocking at the door.

Marjorie (Michelle Skinner), Beau’s pregnant wife, arrives with her lover, Clarke (Brandon Silberstein), who is Beau’s brother and Sylvia’s husband.

Not much later, Diedre (Natalie To), Beau’s other girlfriend, shows up. She’s recently divorced from Richard (Lysander Abadia) and fears he wants to kill her. His menacing arrival, gun in hand, closes Act 1.

Things get even more complicated in Act 2, especially with that gun, and not everyone is who he or she purports to be.

Director Katie O’Bryan Champlin deftly directs this talented ensemble cast and keeps the mounting silliness from going overboard.

Kevin Davies has designed the cottage’s inviting living room and its props. Thus he adds to the humor with subtle touches such as (smokeless) cigarettes secreted in unlikely places.

The stylish ’20s costumes were designed by Jenny Garcia, complemented by Karen Althoff’s hair and makeup designs.

Lighting by Samantha Schroeter and sound by David Hobbs contribute to the enjoyment.

The English accents are sometimes difficult to understand, but the actors and director get the meaning across nonetheless.

Because of the adult themes, Palo Alto Players says that the play is recommended only for people 13 or older.

Running about two hours and 20 minutes with one intermission, “The Cottage” will continue through June 28 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or visit www.paplayers.org.