Neil Simon A Parisian? Somehow We Doubt It

Theater Review

2nd Star Productions' 'Dinner Party' Is As French As Noo Yawk

A gem of a theater can be found only one mile over the Anne Arundel-Prince George's line at Bowie Playhouse in Whitemarsh Park, which reopened last December after undergoing a half-million-dollar renovation. Bowie Playhouse is home to three groups that alternate shows: Prince George's Little Theatre, Bowie Community Theatre and 2nd Star Productions, which opened its season last weekend with Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party."

Despite a distinguished 13-year history that includes winning three Ruby Griffith Awards presented by the British Embassy, for "Guys and Dolls" in 2002, "Mame" in 2004 and "Man of La Mancha" in 2009, 2nd Star has struggled to survive the recession and only gained enough support in June to mount its 14th season.

Opening with a play written in 2000 by America's most successful playwright would seem a safe bet. "The Dinner Party" is Simon's 31st play, a work in which he told The New York Times he "wanted to break the concept that farces can never get real." He set up a situation where six people are invited to dinner in an upscale Paris restaurant, arriving singly to build a mystery of why they're there, and later find they have strong connections as three divorced couples.

The first act is filled with Simon's distinctive banter as the three men try to guess why they've been invited by an unknown host. First to arrive is Claude Pichon, a rare-book dealer; then Albert Donay, who owns a car rental company; and finally men's clothing mogul Andre Bouville. They trade barbs before the first woman - Mariette Levieux - arrives to bring an element of realism to move the action. Mariette was married to Claude and once dated Andre. Arriving next is Yvonne Fouchet, who married, divorced and remarried Albert. The last arrival is Gabrielle Buonocelli, who asserts that she is the hostess and will direct what follows in the second act when all six are locked in the dining room to review their pasts.

2nd Star's production is directed by Charles W. Maloney, who describes this as a "somewhat unique Neil Simon comedy in that it explores personal relationships in a more serious manner." To this I would question how quintessential New Yorker Simon could offer this pastiche of barely credible French characters caught in a farcical comedic drama. To me these six characters seem clearly to be New Yorkers transported to Paris.