The adage “Be sure your sin will find you out” has never been truer than in THE SENSUOUS SENATOR, the nutty bedroom farce playing now at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Plucked from the headlines, the play (written by British playwright Michael Parker) depicts a scandalous scenario wilder than anything we’ve read about… so far.
The play begins at a political press conference where Senator Harry Douglas (Mark Tydell) is introduced and extolled as an honest, devoted and faithful family man. He flashes a wickedly handsome smile as he arrives on stage, his demure wife (Donna Cherry) on his arm.
Immediately he announces his candidacy for President of the United States, promises a platform of integrity, loyalty, and morality, and receives a smattering of applause. He then opens the floor for questions. (One wonders what would happen if a theater patron shouted out a question at this point. This reviewer was sorely tempted.)
He steamrolls one journalist, but another from The National Intruder (Tanya C. Edward) causes an uproar when she asks the Senator about his sexy secretary who can’t even type. He has her escorted out by a policeman (Scott Vinci) but not before she vows to get the whole story.
Later in his posh residence, after a final drink and a hearty farewell to his campaign staff, the Senator turns to his wife for a goodbye kiss. She’s off to a speaking engagement on his behalf; he promises to keep the home fires burning while she’s gone.
As soon as the cab leaves however, the Senator rushes to telephone his secretary (smug chuckle from the audience) whom he asks to join him (her “Honey Bear”) for the weekend. He’s miffed when she refuses and calls an escort agency instead. They promise to send the shapely Fiona (Kerry Jade Aberman) in half an hour.
A slow starter, the play gathers momentum and laughter when the Senator retires “to freshen up.” For one reason or another, his staff returns, the elder Congressman Salt (Charles Howerton) because he lost his house key, the younger Congressman Maguire (Brendan Shanahan) because he wants to further discuss the campaign. The Senator frantically tries to get them to leave, but to no avail.
Things really get complicated when the sexy secretary (Melanie Rashbaum) has a change of heart and makes an appearance. Then the shapely Fiona arrives, ready for action. As the Senator shuffles drinks and lies and bodies and clothes, another person arrives. Act I ends with the flash of a camera bulb.
Act II holds a madcap chase (so typical of “farce”) with players (now including the journalist and policeman) running up and down the stairs, in and out of rooms and closets, over and under beds, inside and outside, clothed and unclothed. And then the wife returns home (You knew it had to happen, right?), but she is only one of the surprises awaiting the Senator … and the audience.
Director Ken Salzman cast a bevy of smart, beautiful and sexy women for the show. They bring zing and eye appeal while his gaggle of fumbling gentlemen brings most of the humor. The elder Congressman is a pastiche of Ted Kennedy, while the Senator is a mixture of Al Gore, John Edwards and Mark Sanford. Congressman Mcguire, the new kid “on the hill,” learns fast, especially when give explicit directives from “the Agency.”
Opening night jitters account for a few fumbled lines and hesitant starts, but once the play is in full swing, the humor kicks in and it becomes enjoyable escapist (one would hope) entertainment.
THE SENSUOUS SENATOR plays Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:30 through February 27, 2010. General admission is $20 ($17 for seniors and students), ($12 for children). For information and reservations call: (626) 355-4318 or visit: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
The Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd in Sierra Madre, CA 91024.
