RISE Presents "Lend Me a Tenor" at the Assembly Theater

The Rhode Island Stage Ensemble (RISE) presents the last weekend of "Lend Me A Tenor" at The Assembly Theater in Harrisville, RI on May 20, 21 and 22. The shows on the 20th and 21st are at 8pm. On Sunday, May 22 there is a matinee at 2pm. RISE Co-Chair Laura Westfall is the director of this comedy of errors, egos and mistaken identity.

The show is well-cast and has obviously worked very hard to bring cohesion to this madcap, fun-filled comedy. The mission of RISE is "To provide the community with exceptional theatrical productions and educational experiences in the performing arts". By taking on this classic comedy, RISE provides the audience with great entertainment and a wonderful vehicle for performance and learning for the cast.

In "Lend Me A Tenor", the owner of the Opera, Henry Q. Saunders (Rich Ferron), is nervous and frought with worry that something will go wrong with the special performance of "Othello" by the famed Italian tenor, Tito Merelli (Josh Fontaine). Merelli has appeared in Cleveland, Ohio to give this little opera company a financial and artistic boost.

The frazzled Henry tasks his assistant Max (Matthew Neto) with keeping an eye on Merelli until it is time for his performance. Although Merelli is married to the lovely and hot-tempered Maria (Courtney Pritt), he is still a well-known skirt chaser. Meanwhile every woman in the hotel is trying to get in to see the famous Merelli.

The set is well done in every detail. The setting is a first-class hotel suite in 1934 Cleveland. Costumes are lovely and fit the characters well. The set is "split" into the two "rooms" of the suite - the bedroom and the living area. The bedroom has three doors, naturally. What would a good bedroom comedy be without a game of "who is in or out of which door?"

Maggie Saunders (Candice Sampson), daughter of Henry, is in love with Max, but is also trying to get an audience with Merelli. She alternately hides in the closet, the bathroom, then the closet again trying to reach her goal. The blond diva, Diana (Elizabeth Labrecque), uses all her female tactics to convince Merelli he should make her famous.

Also after Merelli is the middle-aged Julia (Lisa Calkins), head of the Opera Patrons, who will stop at nothing to get Merelli's attention. And then there's the Bellhop with the wonderful voice. Michael Campbell does a fine job as the fame-seeking Bellhop, who keeps coming up with excuses to enter the suite. The action in the story really kicks into high gear when Max accidentally overdoses Merelli in trying to get the famed tenor to relax before his performance.

Michael Campbell (the Bellhop) is also the next candidate in RISE's Young Director's Program. Campbell will get to direct "The Diary of Anne Frank" in August this year. Board Member Sharon Cross is his mentor for the project. Campbell was chosen from a very competitive field of candidates for this opportunity.

For tickets, more information about RISE and to see next season's play choices, please go to the website at www.ristage.org.