Long Beach Playhouse’s (LBPH) latest production, Around the World in 80 Days, is no new story, yet the cast and crew bring a fresh and sassy edge to this nearly 150-year-old tale.
Originally an adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days has since been adapted into several plays and musicals, movies, a television show and even a radio broadcast.
Not to mention all the spin-off literature and movies it inspired. LBPH produced the Mark Brown version of this piece. Under the direction of Gregory Cohen, the five-member cast takes the audience on a zany, quick-paced adventure.
Though a dusty, old tale harkening back to an era of exploration and the unknown, LBPH’s Around the World in 80 Days holds its own. Packed with slapstick comedy, word play and even one live slow-motion scene (yes, really, and it’s fabulous), there is not a dull moment.
The play is centered around hyper-punctual gentleman Phileas Fogg’s (Rick Reischman) wager with fellow members of the gentlemen’s club that one could travel around the world in 80 days, as a local newspaper had published— an unheard of feat at the time. He, in fact, bet that he could make it around the world in that short of time; all it took was planning and punctuality.
Queue Fogg’s new servant, Frenchman Passepartout (Stephen Alan Carver), and his “perfect timepiece.” Both men set out for this undertaking with nothing but a carpet bag (which, by the way, appeared to literally be a square of carpet folded into a taco and fashioned with two handles at the top, but more on the wacky props later!) and the clothes on their backs.
The plot thickens as Detective Fix (Mark Davidson)— or should I say Mr. Detecamafix— suspects Fogg for robbery and follows him around the world, too.
As the plot unfurls and adventure ensues, one can imagine all the imagination that it takes to transport the audience to faraway lands with little to no set change. The cast embraces the minimalist artistic direction, complete with bouncing in their seats to simulate the bumpiness of their train rides and swaying with the waves of the ocean while aboard a ship. Not to mention the props.
With a kids’-craft/steampunk vibe (in a good way), the set’s multifunctional closet-elephant-ship-et al. and a few pieces of luggage were the extent of the set. The guns during the great shootout were perhaps the show-stealer though. Crafted from what appeared to be gilded children’s toys, funnels, pieces of wood and various other gizmos, the simplicity of the set enhanced the lightheartedness and slapstick humor the cast brought to the table.
Playing multiple roles each, the cast moved quickly from character to character, requiring the audience to keep up and pay attention. Such character lists required each actor to switch up voices, mannerisms and personalities multiple times each scene, which is no easy task.
Actor Jaxson Brashier seemed to switch roles the most, and he did so with ease. He slipped into these bawdy characters and embraced their strong personalities head on.
The chemistry between this small and dynamic cast allowed for the space of goofiness needed to achieve such high laughter from the audience. A light tale funny to all ages, LBPH’s Around the World in 80 Days is a must-see.
Long Beach Playhouse’s Around the World in 80 Days will run through May 7 on the Mainstage at 5021 E. Anaheim St., with the following performance times: Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. For tickets and information, visit lbplayhouse.org or call (562) 949-1014.
