Susan Granger’s review of “Around the World in 80 Days” (Westport Country Playhouse)
While Mike Todd’s screen version of “Around the World in 80 Days,” starring David Niven, Cantinflas and Shirley MacLaine, was an Oscar-winning, star-studded spectacular back in 1956, the classic Jules Verne story has lost much of its charm over the years – until the current revival.
Set in 1872 in Victorian England, this amusing, high-spirited romp begins with wealthy Phileas Fogg (Mark Shanahan) and other members of his men’s club discussing a news story about ‘modern travel’ that appears in “The Daily Telegraph.” Impulsively, Fogg wagers that he can make a trip around the globe in 80 days. With his resourceful French valet Passepartout (Evan Zest), he embarks on his journey, unaware that a British detective suspects him of bank robbery and is following close behind, awaiting delivery of a warrant for his arrest. As they circumnavigate the world by steamship, railway and elephant, the intrepid travelers are joined by Aouda, a beautiful Indian widow whom they save from her rajah husband’s funeral pyre.
Cleverly adapted by Mark Brown and imaginatively directed by Michael Evan Haney, it’s an eyeful and an earful – with minimalist music and sound effects created by Elizabeth Helitzer and Mark Parenti. Propelling the show, Mark Shanahan is a fastidious and proper Fogg, a perfect foil for the physical comedy of scene-stealing Evan Zes, whose zany antics recall Charlie Chaplin. Versatile, vivacious Andrew Grusetskie, Jeff Biehl and Lauren Elise McCord portray all the supporting characters, donning and discarding David Kay Mickelson’s costumes in the blink of an eye.
“Around the World in 80 Days” at the Westport Country Playhouse (http://www.westportplayhouse.org) is jolly good fun for the whole family. Run, run, run to see it!