NEW YORK—Take one part melodrama, one part comedy, add a dash of satire, toss in a large order of overdone ham, and mix well. The result is the fluffy, frothy, and quite delightful comedy, Is He Dead? Written by Mark Twain in 1898, the tale is just now making its first appearance on the Broadway stage.
In 1846 France, painter Jean-Francois Millet (Norbert Leo Butz) finds himself on the verge of financial ruin, his numerous works good for little more than firewood. His latest showing was a disaster, and owing a large sum of money to the snarling Bastien Andre (Bryon Jennings), all seems lost.
Until his friends Chicago and Dutchy (Michael McGrath, Tom Alan Robbins), realizing art is more valuable when the artist is no longer among the living, come up with a plan to announce to the world that Millet is dead. At the same time Millet will take on the guise of his nonexistent twin sister, the Widow Daisy Tillou, complete with appropriate attire, while continuing to create paintings, which his friends can then sell.
The scheme works like a charm as the hitherto unknown Millet is now mourned as a lost national treasure of France, and Tillou is able to pay off the debts of her "brother" as well as those of his friends. Rather unexpectedly, However, Millet finds his feminine alter ego the object of desire from his former benefactor Papa Leroux (John McMartin) as well as from the evil Andre, the latter who still has a claim on Millet's now much-higher valued estate.
Additionally, Millet is pining for his love Marie (Jenn Gambatese), Papa's daughter, who is in mourning over his "passing." With the arrivals of several foreign heads of state to view his body and the French police beginning to suspect foul play, Millet, Chicago, and Dutchy must do some quick thinking to get out of the situation they've created.
The outcome is never really in doubt, so the question becomes how one enjoys the process of getting to the closing curtain. The work has been nicely adapted by David Ives and directed by Michael Blakemore, both men taking this rather featherweight piece and shepherding it nicely though its paces.
The key here is that nothing is taken too seriously, a point that also comes through with the performances. With numerous moments of deliberate overacting and asides to the audiences, the work reminds one of a paper-thin comedy of yesteryear, but the piece is still fresh, enthusiastic, and enjoyable enough to make for a fun evening.
Casting is very important in a show like this, and fortunately there isn't a false note to be heard. Butz is wonderful as the lead, spending about three-quarters of the show in drag, playing the "grieving sister" to the hilt while fending off advances from Leroux and Andre.
Jennings is a superb as Andre, one of those old-fashioned hiss-able villains (complete with slicked-back hair and mustache) with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
McGrath is strong as Chicago, the true schemer of the bunch (who reminds one a bit of Nathan Lane). McMartin, Robbins, and David Pittu (the latter playing numerous roles) all provide solid (and when needed, outrageous) work to help round out the cast.
Sets by Peter J. Davison are nice, as are the costumes by Martin Pakledinaz. Lighting by Peter Kacorowski also works well.
Is He Dead? is not great art or even great theater, but for what it is it's a lot of fun.
Also in the cast are Bridget Regan, Patricia Conolly, Marylouise Burke, and Jeremy Bobb.
Is He Dead?
The Lyceum Theatre
149 West 45th Street
Tickets: 212-239-6200, 800-432-7250, or www.telecharge.com
Information: www.IsHeDead.com
Open Run
Running Time: Approximately Two Hours, 5 Minutes
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London newspaper The Stage.
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