The slightly pretentious letter inversion might have you believe that the Everyman Theatre is much like other "theatres" one comes across. Actors in these theaters prattle on onstage about existence and the futility of hope for a few hours, then during intermission everyone congratulates themselves on being so very high-brow. Meanwhile, you try to conceal the fact that you're checking the time every four minutes.
Everyman bucks the trend, however. They choose their plays to be genuinely entertaining for an audience that isn't necessarily up on their Nietzsche. This time around, George F. Walker's Filthy Rich kept the audience in the play right until the ending cheesy cadence.
Filthy Rich is the story of washed-up private eye Tyrone M. Power (Bob Rogerson). The exact location is ambiguous, but we gather that the action takes place in Power's office/bedroom, in a major metropolis during the late 1940s.
Rogerson does the hermitic Power very well, capturing the shoulder-sagging tendencies of the drunk Power, who wants to be left alone, his only contact with the outside world being the increasingly frequent telegrams from his mother informing him of some relative's death.
However, there were a few times when Rogerson stumbled over his lines. Eleven times, to be exact. Yes, it was opening night, and some of Power's rants were of a tongue-twisting nature. But the ever-so-brief pauses in the flow of the play were just enough to remind you that you were, in fact, watching a play. It was unfortunate, but we can reasonably expect that the company has ironed out these kinks by now.
Blunders aside, Power's omnipresent negativity and constant pontification made for some of the funniest lines of this or any play. Constantly the odd man out, the stark contrast of his philosophical outlook on life and others' more straightforward approach to business provides more than enough material to keep laughs coming.
Power gets wrapped up in the affairs of the rich Scott sisters (Beth Hylton and Megan Anderson). They appear suddenly and separately in his office, demanding the services of a private eye who no longer is. Seductive, quick and calculating, the sisters are the hinges upon which the plot twists - and many turns it has. We see a range of personalities from both sisters as their apparent intentions change and change back, and each time we are taken in thanks to the execution of Hylton and Anderson.
Power's janitor-turned-partner Jamie (Scott Kerns) is the young, rash and quick-talking stereotype of 1940s Chicago. His accent makes one half-expect that he will offer to sell Power "papes."
While funny with his spot-on mannerisms, Jamie is not a particularly deep character. We do not necessarily blame Kearns, but there is only so much development that can be done with a straightforward character like Jamie.
While mostly monosyllabic, Scott Hamilton Westerman was excellent in his underplayed mobster Henry "The Pig" Duvall. When paired with the bombastic Power, the tension births the best scene of the play.
The actors make full use of the fantastically designed set. There are a few rather wet interactions with the fish tank (one feels for the poor fish involved). Glass is broken, cigarettes are smoked onstage - no element of the story is skipped due to stage limitations.
The primary cue that Filthy Rich doesn't take itself seriously is the music and sound effects. Seconds-long samples punctuate scenes with extra-cheesy effects. Every bad segue from an early-century radio show is used playfully to get the audience ready to laugh at the characters' plight - and not to get too involved.
Still, the issues presented are real ones. Power has some very tough decisions to make, which he does after plenty of vocalized rumination. Despite the distance established by the lighthearted manner of the play, we feel for Power when he finally does make the tough decision.
Everyman Theater never fails to impress. There is always a unique element to each play that brings us coming back for more. For Filthy Rich, it was the dry humor of Rogerson's Tyrone Power and the whirlwind of twists and turns. This is a play that truly entertains - and is not just for self-congratulatory theatre buffs.
Filthy Rich is playing through Dec. 14 at the Everyman Theatre in Station North. Tickets are $24-$38 at everymantheatre.org.
