In his program notes, Chris Maher, director of "The Solid Gold Cadillac," describes the show as a return to Open Eye Productions’ "silly roots." George S. Kaufman and Howard Teichmann's 1953 comedy will never be accused of profundity or brilliance, but it's full of diverting silliness--which may be just the thing for these uncertain economic times.
The play centers on Laura Partridge (the delicious Sara Sevigny), a stockholder who owns 10 shares of the behemoth General Products Corporation. When she attends a shareholder meeting, her questions about executive pay spook the four corrupt executives, who hire her in a job for a job that they think will position her as powerless. Things do not go as planned.
The plot bears little relation to the reality of the business world, politics, or human behavior, but who cares? The characters are fun to watch, the one-liners elicit chuckles and guffaws, and the story unfolds in a charmingly ridiculous manner.
The production hits the sweet spot most of the time. Comedy depends on precise control and timing, especially when there isn’t much more than jokes to keep the show going. Maher’s production walks the line of decent success, often pitching a moment just right, but occasionally getting unfocused or letting a joke go on too long (a parody of bad amateur actors being one example). The performances are generally on-target with standouts being Sevigny—a force of nature as the guileless but brilliant Partridge—and John Blick as one of the nefarious executives whose wordless reactions are priceless.
"The Solid Gold Cadillac" has never been a classic, but it never claims to be. It gives the audience two hours of laughs--surely a noble mission these days.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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