The Heir Apparent

'The Heir Apparent'A Shakespeare Theater Company presentation of the play in 2 functions modified by David Ives in the comedy by Jean-Francois Regnard. Directed by Michael Kahn.Lisette - Kelly Hutchinson Crispin - Carson Elrod Eraste - Andrew Veenstra Geronte - Floyd KingWho might have thought a steady flow of shameless rhymes and groan-worthy puns might be this type of hoot? However in the pitiless hands of playwright David Ives -- whose play "Venus in Fur" opens on Broadway later this fall -- there's payback aplenty within this adaptation of "The Heir Apparent," a 300-year-old French farce by Jean-Francois Regnard. Show launches the 25th anniversary season of D.C.'s Shakespeare Theater Company. STC artistic director Michael Kahn commissioned Ives to translate and adapt the comedy through the rarely-created playwright, overshadowed ever by Moliere. A job follows Ives' well accepted adaptation for Kahn this year of Pierre Corneille's "The Liar," another 17th century French comedy which, like "Heir," was designed in verse. Both of them are items of STC's 7- year-old ReDiscovery Series that revives neglected classics. Designed in 1708, annually before Regnard died, "Heir" ("Le Legataire Universel") was the scribe's final and many effective play, recognized because of its gentle parody of French society inside an appealingly zany plot hell-bent on drawing laughs. Within this decidedly low brow exercise, potty jokes are treated as high art in apparent contrast towards the Shakespeare Theater's standard fare. The impish Ives goes a measure further by peppering the piece with modern America asides. "I am only a soccer mother in mind," concedes one character. Occur an ornately disheveled drawing room created by Alexander Dodge and lit to shadowy perfection by Philip Rosenberg, a wizened curmudgeon performed by STC regular Floyd King has introduced intends to draft his will. Avarice naturally assumes charge of peak household. Rhyming couplets spew forth, the greater tortured the greater. "I do not care what anybody states. I'm a one-guy Comedie Francaise," boasts the talking manservant Crispin (Carson Elrod) carrying out a merry romp of hide and jinx. Elrod's Crispin may be the play's prime comedy spark, ably aided in the impromptu trick by Andrew Veestra because the nephew and uncle's apparent sole heir, and Kelly Hutchinson like a devious maid and Crispin's girlfriend. Precision timing and athleticism are probably the characteristics of Kahn's fast-paced and entertaining production. Other highlights include wonderful turns by Meg Chambers Steedle because the suffering bride-to-be, Nancy Robinette as her dowager mother and Clark Middleton because the up and down challenged attorney who unwillingly can serve as everyone's foil. Just like "Liar," the clever "Heir" underscores the need for STC's enterprising ReDiscovery series like a vital source for re-imagined classics for present day audiences.Sets, Alexander Dodge costumes, Murell Horton lighting, Philip Rosenberg arrangements, Adam Wernick seem, Christoper Baine. Opened up Sept. 11, 2011. Examined Sept. 22. Runs through March. 23. Running time: 2 Hrs.With: Nancy Robinette, Meg Chambers Steedle, Clark Middleton. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com