Lettice and Lovage
"Enlarge! Enliven! Enlighten!"
This is the battle cry for Lettice Douffet, the eccentric tour guide with a penchant for the dramatic in Peter Shaffer’s charming play, Lettice and Lovage. It’s interesting, then, that Redtwist, with their cozy performance space that seats just under 40, would choose to stage a show that begs for grand comedy. However, with addictive chemistry from its two leading ladies and effective use of the unconventional space by director Steve Scott, this production doesn’t so much leap off the stage into our hearts, as it does slowly -- but most assuredly -- win you over with its unending spirit.
Lettice (Millicent Hurley), a deeply passionate historical tour guide, discovers that distracted tourists respond quite strongly to her dramatic embellishments of historical facts. Enter the buttoned-up Preservation Trust personnel manager Lotte (Jan Ellen Graves), who sets out to remove Lettice from her post after listing first-hand to her wildly fanciful recounting of a staircase in an otherwise lackluster hall. However, as unlikely as it first seems, these two women have more in common than one would think.
It’s essentially a two-woman showcase, with the title character created by Shaffer specifically for Dame Maggie Smith, who won many awards for her work when the show transferred from its hit West End run to Broadway in 1990. (See a YouTube clip below of Maggie Smith in the play.)
Hurley and Graves are two very skilled actresses who obviously have a great time working together. Hurley, who has the arduous task of bringing Lettice to life, does so with humanity, grandness and a touch of fragility. Graves could amp up the broadness in act two, but is a perfect foil for Hurley. The barely-used supporting cast is very fine, particularly Maura Kidwell, who seems to be channeling Kristen Wiig as Lotte’s painfully timid secretary, and Jim Morley as Lettice’s tightly-wound attorney.
I would argue that Shaffer’s script is simply overlong. There’s no reason that such a light affair need be three acts and 2.5 hours long. The final act wears out its welcome, as we can see where it’s all headed before it gets there. But Scott’s direction keeps things moving along.
Jack Magaw’s physical design gets the job done, working within Redtwist’s unique limitations. However, I do think Lettice’s scene stealing second act outfit, designed by Erin Fast, could be even more outrageous.
As it is, if you want to see two fantastic actresses at the top of their game, check out Redtwist’s Lettice and Lovage.
Lettice and Lovage plays through November 8 at the Redtwist Theatre at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr. For more information, visit www.redtwist.org.
Watch a YouTube clip of Maggie Smith in the original production:
