Jeffrey Donovan Fans

Time Out Chicago Review of DDFD

Bedroom farce has been in vogue in Chicago lately, a trend enjoyed by potentially Broadway-bound visitor Don’t Dress for Dinner. TV and film star Jeffrey Donovan, remarkably commanding onstage, heads up the cast of this trial balloon, written by latter-day French master Camoletti. Hawdon’s adaptation translates the play into this-very-second contemporaneity, and the rest of the cast positively bristles with light-comedy chops. With a gorgeous set and costumes, it’s chock-full of empty calories but no less delicious for that.

Camoletti’s plot of improvised, geometrically expanding deception runs as follows: French-countryside gentleman Bernard’s (Harelik) prearranged tryst with mistress Suzanne (Jamie Morgan), covered for by globe-trotting pal Robert (Donovan), is complicated when wife Jacqueline (Kalember) cancels her plans. Scheduled to spend the weekend with her mom, Jacqueline sticks around to see Robert, with whom she’s having an affair. Bernard forces Robert to pretend Suzanne is his mistress, a good plan until Robert mistakes diminutive catering-company cook Suzette (Kayden) for his bombshell quarry. As everyone covers up for everyone else, the fibs multiply, creating a perfect storm of tenuous bullshit.

Even relative to the form, the particulars stretch believability, but Tillinger’s crack team of fight and dance choreographers have blocked the show down to the slightest gesture, generating enough momentum to brush such concerns aside. Everyone is excellent, but, as Suzette, Neo-Futurist and Chicago expat Kayden entirely fulfills the comic possibilities of her put-upon role, pretty much owning this ensemble effort.

Source: TimeOut Chicago