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BLOOMSBURG -- Theatergoers who wish to explore Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble's 41st season are urged to check into "The Explorer's Club."
The acclaimed professional ensemble opens its 2018-19 season with "The Explorer's Club," with 7:30 p.m. performances, tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, and Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6; with 3 p.m. showings on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 at the Alvina Krause Theater, 226 Center St. A special matinee for school students is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 4.
Set in a stuffy men's club in London, 1879, "The Explorer's Club" is looked upon by many as a " laughing stock" with its odd assortment of members and staff.,
Still, its acting president, a botanist named Fretings, is not deterred from making an outlandish proposal, namely not only to admit a new member -- but one who is a female.
Not just the first female ever admitted to the Club, but a plucky adventuress named Phyllida, who is also a celebrated anthropologist. And not just any celebrated anthropologist, but one who is renown for having bought back from her latest expedition, a colorful specimen, whom she calls Luigi.
The reactions, denouncements and general chaos which follow is the focus of Neil Benjamin's often hilarious farce.
Benjamin, who co-composed "Legally Blonde: The Musical," isn't interested in subtly. Right from the opening curtain, the audience is welcomed by Queen Victoria -- although she slyly says that "you may call me Vicki."
The eccentricities of "The Explorer's Club" members are described in Act I's lengthy exposition, but the pace and laughter notably increases in Act II as the play's physicality runs rampant.
As a bonus of sorts, for the first time in over 10 seasons, the entire professional ensemble shares the stage in this production. This is possible as Associate Ensemble member Leigh Strimbeck returns to Bloomsburg as the show's director.
From the opening night audience's reactions, it is uncertain which ensemble member (or guest artist or intern) carves out the most vivid madcap portrait.
Lucas Phayre-Gonzalez as the turbulent tribesman Luigi not only slaps the Queen of England, but can also be called a thief -- as this Guest Artist "steals" many scenes with his wild facial expressions and agile gyrations. And Luigi turns out to be just what the club was missing -- a great bartender.
Bringing him back to civilization is Phyllida, the proposed first female member of the Club, played by BTE Acting Intern Morgan McKenzie Kauffman, who also briefly doubles as her sister.
This production also features gender-switching as BTE members Laurie McCants, with an unnatural attachment to her guinea pig, and Elizabeth Dowd, often wrapped up in her cobra, play male members of "The Explorer's Club."
There's excellent acting by the club's acting President , the shy, nebbish Fretway played by Andrew Hubatsek, and the official President Percy, with Eric Wunsch as the blustery discoverer of the East Pole.
Leading the opposition to the induction of the first female is BTE's James Goode as the sanctimonious, Bible-beating Professor Sloane, who wants the Irish relocated to Palestine.
After a brief appearance as Irish assassin, Richard Cannaday returns as a revengeful Buddist monk Bebe -- and Cannaday has even shaved his head for the role.
Completing the cast is Daniel Roth as the Crown's representative, with Roth looking a lot like the blue-streaked Luigi in BTE's early pre-show publicity.
This show's production values are enhanced with solid technical support from costuming and the set design, with the bar prominently displayed, and the club's walls covered with explorers' mounted animals, and many trophy swords.
Played in two acts with one intermission, the show is rated "MA" for its mature language and humor.
Not every sling at science and sexism completely hits its mark, but BTE"s "The Explorer's Club" deserves a visit from area theatregoers. It's loony but very entertaining!
For more information, call 570-784-8181 or visit www.bte.org.