Opinion by: Jake Boeding

Old-fashioned humor gets me.  I’ve figured out why this day and age’s “comedy” movies and shows don’t appeal to me.  And that is because nothing is as good as a stage play comedy.  Add in a beautiful set, well-done technical work, and a fantastic acting cast and you have perfection.  You have Oak Park’s previous winter comedy: Lend Me a Tenor.

Walking into the theater, I didn’t know what to expect.  I didn’t have any background knowledge as to what the premise of this play was, nor did I have any expectations.  What I also didn’t expect was to be blown away, but I was.  First off, the set was gorgeous.  The single hotel room where the entire play takes place was beautifully designed.  The blues and pinks really popped, but still managed not to be a distraction to the audience member.  The set also suffered minimal setbacks, which was very impressive due to the amount of slamming doors this play went through.

Enhancing the set was the amazing technical work.  The lighting was well done and the sound never faltered.  In my years at Oak Park I would venture to say the technical work done in this show was one of the most flawless I had ever seen.  Also, a nod goes to the costume and makeup crew for making the quick changes fit seamlessly within the story and also not ever missing a cue.

However, where this play really shined lied in the cast.  Bubbly and fun, the acting crew of this play brought life and laughter into the audience and led to a standing ovation at the end of every show.  Standout performances were those of Shannon Jordan as the strict and harsh businessman Saunders, and Chris Durrant as the lovable geek Max.  The acting done by these two blew me away.  Jordan’s cutting tone and prideful physical demeanor carried through all the way to the back row and made the character extremely believable.  Durrant also did very well in his physical quirks of the role and his nervous stutters were a great character trait and, inadvertently, a comedic enhancer.  The two of them did tremendously well on stage with the other actors and the chemistry between them also led to the scenes of just the two of them being the best ones of the play.

Winter comedies at Oak Park are normally not well attended and that is just a shame.  Students missed an amazing show in Lend Me a Tenor and should regret this fact.  The great set, respectable technical work, and near-perfect acting cast lead this to be a memorable show and a comedy for ones in the future to compare to.