Talk about your triumphs.
Roadrunner Theatre Company’s “Triumph of Love,” is seductive, silly, and a giddy evening of theater.
Here’s why: Erin Anderson, Jodi Darling, Kit Runge, José “Chach” Snook (he directed, as well), Tyler Wright, Jeremy Vega and Kelli Workman.
To a person, the cast glistened. The voices were impressive. The acting, too. And the comedic timing, especially, was just delicious.
And the material? The James Magruder book, with music and lyrics by Jeffrey Stock and Susan Birkenhead, was a delight.
Adapted from Pierre de Marivaux’s 18th century play of the same name, the story revolves around Léonide (Anderson), princess of Sparta, who has fallen madly in love with Agis, a philosophy student (Wright) she once caught a glimpse of. Agis has no idea who Léonide is, though he does know that he is the rightful heir to the throne and so he must travel to Sparta and kill Léonide. Making it even more difficult for her, Agis has no use for women. Or love.
So she disguises herself as a man, and she and her randy right-hand woman, Corine (Workman), wander into the compound where Agis lives with his Aunt Hesione (Darling) and Uncle Hemocrates (Runge). The aunt and uncle, Agis’ lifelong guardians and mentors, encourage the idea that love is worthless, women are sniveling, and that the princess must die.
As Léonide weasels her way into the compound, she seduces most of the household in hopes of ultimately seducing Agis. Those she doesn’t seduce are taken care of by Corine.
Often stealing the show were Workman, Vega as Dimas, the gardener at the compound and Snook as Harlequin, the valet. They were the clowns in this production (well, really, everyone was a clown to some extent) and each time they stepped on stage, it got bawdy and hilarious.
Anderson’s princess was smart and clever, Darling’s aunt was stern with a soft center, Runge’s transformation from an inflexible philosopher to a goofball in love was a hoot, and Wright’s cluelessness as the naive Agis was perfect.
But in truth, it’s hard to single out one player — this ensemble embraced the material with energy, talent and intent.
This chamber musical moves like lightening, soars with gorgeous voices and hits you like a large dose of laughing gas.
We call that a triumph.
