Unnecessary Farce is that rarest of theatrical birds: a farce that is actually funny. Sure, it’s silly to the max, but it makes the audience laugh, the primary responsibility of a farce (and a goal rarely achieved.) Like the great comedies of old, Farce’s unbearably funny plot is not contrived but rather derives from character development. And what a bunch of characters!
The play opens as patently under-qualified cops Eric and Billie set up a sting operation in a pair of adjoining motel rooms “in a big town . . . somewhere in America.” Alerted to certain discrepancies in the municipal budget – a mere $16 million – they’re hoping that city accountant Karen Brown will, by calling the mayor on the carpet, prompt him to offer her an incriminatory bribe. Simple? Not on your life, as Murphy’s law takes effect and the sting goes south in a hurry when Scottish hit man Todd, security head Frank, and the mayor’s wife Mary arrive on the scene.
Directed by Ann Dolan, the cast is terrific, with a mix of favorite LCP veterans and some new faces, too! Cops Eric and Billie are played by Carson Smith and Lisa Nicolai; accountant Karen Brown is Eileen Dushek-Manthe; Scottish hit man Todd is played by Bill Mahaney, security head Frank is Shawn Steinhoff; and the mayor and his wife are played by Bob McKelvey and Judy Felsenthal.
Unnecessary Farce runs March 17 and 18 at 8 pm, and March 19 at 2 pm at the fabulous Grantland Theater in downtown Lancaster. Reserved ($10) and general admission ($9) tickets are available now by calling box office manager Angela Walter at 608-778-7726.