A CurtainUp Review 

The Regard Evening
By Jenny Sandman 


The second of Bill Irwin's shows since taking up residence at the
Signature Theatre Company is a reprise of The Regard of Flight, which
first premiered twenty years ago and established Irwin as a master
clown. The evening reunites Irwin with the original performers, Doug
Skinner and Michael O'Connor. To further cement his reputation,
there's a post-intermission second act, aptly calleded In The Same
Regard.

The evening begins with Irwin in bed, in red striped pajamas and
nightcap. He tosses and turns, falls asleep then wakes up to find
himself on stage-- an experience that's every performer's worst
nightmare. With him are the Musical Director (Skinner) and the Critic
(O'Connor). The Musical Director keeps Irwin hopping, while he plays
the ukulele and lectures the audience on "New Theatre"and
Postmodernism. Skinner, dryly humorous and straight-faced to the last,
is hysterical. He serves as a narrator of sorts, commenting on the
action while at the same time regulating it. By playing music,
pressing buzzers, quizzing Irwin, and giving him directions, he keeps
Irwin in a whirlwind of confused activity.

The Critic keeps interrupting the action, asking Irwin questions and
attempting to discern the "central metaphor" of the piece. (In his own
fairly blatant metaphor, the Critic keeps trying to stuff Irwin into a
box). Eventually the Critic becomes Irwin's nemesis, hounding and
chasing him. Unable to enjoy the performance for what it is, he keeps
trying to find its "real" meaning, and so Irwin's every attempt to be
entertaining and lighthearted is cut short. 

The second and shorter piece takes place twenty years later again
features Irwin, Skinner and O'Connor. In keeping with the forward move
of time, the trio now lampoons computers, Social Security and cell
phones. 

All the Irwin staples are present--his trunk of surprises, his hat
--tricks and baggy pants, his famously elastic facial expressions. His
physical humor is delightfully self-referential. While discussing ways
to escape his "devices" he uses each of them to full advantage. In the
process, he skewers theatrical conventions and self-righteous critics.

In addition to the magnificent performances, the production values are
joyfully minimalist. Set designer Douglas Stein has skillfully
incorporated devices such as springboards, trap doors and escape
hatches into the stage itself -- and, in one instance,
offstage. Catherine Zuber's costumes for Irwin are winsome. The Music
Director's business-like suit nicely contrasts the Critic's more gaudy
getup. Nancy Schertler's lighting and Brett R. Jarvis's sound design
emphasize the perfect comic timing.

The Regard Evening manages to be both silly and intellectually
stimulating, affording the audience a rare sense of fulfillment. So
much humor these days can only be classified a guilty pleasure, but
this show is pure pleasure. 

Editor's Note: I was Jenny's companion at The Regard Evening, and
found it as enjoyable and well done as she did. My only additions to
her comments would be to point out that there were two other
"performers" worth mentioning -- a droll alter-ego puppet named Eddie
for Doug Skinner which gives him a chance to show off his skills as a
ventriloquist and a delightful puppet-version of Bill Irwin courtesy
of the talented pupeteer Roman Paska. It's also worth noting that with
the holiday season approaching, this is a show kids from ages six and
up would enjoy -- especially if they're lucky enough to have Irwin and
the Critic take their foray off stage into the row in which they're
sitting (which happened to the delight of one family of four at the
performance we attended). For my review of, Harlequin Studies, the
first of Irwin's three Signature Theater shows go here. -- Elyse
Sommer


THE REGARD EVENING
Created in collaboration with Doug Skinner, Michael O'Connor and Nancy
Harrington
Directed by Bill Irwin With Bill Irwin, Michael O'Connor and Doug
Skinner
Set Design by Douglas Stein
Lighting Design by Nancy Schertler
Costume Design by Catherine Zuber
Music by Doug Skinner
Sound Design by Brett R. Jarvis
Running time: 95 minutes with one intermission
Signature Theatre Company, 555 West 42nd Street; 212-244-7529
www.signaturetheatre.org.
From 12/03/03 through 1/25/04--extended to 2/01/04; opening 12/15/03 
--$60. Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on December 12th press performance