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Gaudy Night
By Dorothy L. Sayers
Adapted by Frances Limoncelli
Directed by Dorothy Milne
At Lifeline Theatre
6912 N. Glenwood Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-761-4477, tickets $20 -- $26
Fridays at 7:30 PM
Saturdays at 4 & 8 PM
Sundays at 5:30 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through July 30, 2006
“Placetne, magristra?” “Placet.” (Latin)
“Does it please you, masters degree holder?” “It pleases me.”
--from the Oxford degree granting ceremony
Gaudy Night is another delicious thriller from Lifeline Theatre
Lifeline Theatre presents another Dorothy L. Sayers detective novel come to life with Gaudy Night. This is the third Sayers’ play from Lifeline Theatre (Whose Body in 2002 and Strong Poison in 2004). These excellent productions are witty, funny, sophisticated and flawlessly presented. Frances Limoncelli’s snappy adaptation contains the flavor and spirit of the Sayers’ novels. These enjoyable shows keep audiences wondering ‘who-dun-it’ throughout. With terrific ensemble work in impeccable British accents and a marvelous set (by Jackie & Richard Penrod) depicting the church-like arches of the Oxford University campus with rear screen photo projections indicating locations, Gaudy Night unfolds as a slick, polished production.
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Gaudy Night continues the adventures of detective novelist Harriet Vane (Jenifer Tyler) and her ‘friend’ the aristocratic amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey (Peter Greenberg). The two met five years earlier when Winsey saved Vane from the gallows as he proved that she didn’t kill her ex-lover Phillip Boyes. Winsey has been proposing to Vane at regular intervals since his first at  Newgate Prison during her trial.
Gaudy Night (a term for the reunion of Oxford scholars) finds Harriet Vane back at Oxford at Shrewsbury College (the first women’s college at Oxford) and still avoiding marriage proposals from Lord Wimsey. Vane is asked by Dean Letiti Martin (Melinda Moonahan) to stay on and help solve the mysterious acts of destruction and threats rendered to various faculty members and college buildings. We meet the wacky women of Shrewbury college – Mrs. Goodwin (Katie McLean), Miss Lydgate (Jan Sodaro), Miss DeVine (Christina Irwin) and Miss Hillyard (Mary O’Dowd) add Annie Wilson, the maid (Cathleen Bentley) and there are many suspects to choose from. The play pokes fun at unmarried female scholars and academics.
Filled with notes, spooky events, Sayers’ mystery is tough to solve. During Vane’s investigations, which result in little more than a collection of letters and other obscene epithets, Harriet Vane encounters Lord Saint-George (Bradford R. Lund), Peter Wimsey’s nephew. Harriet learns much about Peter from this stuffy lad. Lund is terrific as Saint-George.
After endless frustration, Vane tries to enlist Peter Wimsey to help her solve the mystery but he is on the continent on diplomatic missions for the government. Eventually Wimsey comes to the aid of Vane and together they put the matter to rest.
Gaudy Night has humor, wit and charm to spare. It surly is Jenifer Tyler’s show as this marvelously talented actress deftly commands the show and exudes warmth as the crime novelist. Peter Greenberg’s Lord Wimsey is equal to Tyler and together the two have chemistry that is electric and believable. This entertaining show contains excellent ensemble work, flawless technical values in a slick professional production that director Dorothy Milne always mounts. Lifeline Theatre sure knows how to adapt literature and produce totally engrossing shows. They indeed infuse life into literary works.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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