Saint Sebastian Players: The Man Who Came To Dinner Review
Bill Chamberlain, Harper McCoy, David R. Feiler, Jill Chukerman Test, and Trey Sorensen
Saint Sebastian Players Present THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER Review - Will This Guy Ever Leave??
TLDR: This production of The Man Who Came To Dinner sticks closely to the original play and has the feel of the time period when it was written with the sets and costumes. The cast delivers on the one liners and absurdities of the farce, but the second act feels like it could pick up the pace to really pack a comedic punch.
Saint Sebastian Players Welcome An Unwanted Guest
Carols, turkey dinners, brightly lit Christmas trees with presents underneath. Christmas time is usually a time of year that brings peace and joy to households as they celebrate and be thankful for each other. However, this year at the Stanley household, they made the grave mistake of inviting the high falutin radio star and critic, Sheridan “Sherry” Whiteside, to dinner. He slips on a patch of ice and injures his hip. But as any polite family would do, the Stanley’s take their dinner guest in until his hip heals.
Of course Sherry’s life cannot stop for such an inconvenience! He quickly implements rules and standards the family and household staff must abide by. He gets phone calls and messages from all his friends and colleagues both in the US and abroad, much to the chagrin of his hosts paying the bill. The door becomes a revolving door for all these friends who call and want to visit and each has a part to play in helping Sherry with one of his schemes.
Written in 1939, the set design by Emil Zbella and costume design by Mary McCarthy give us that turn of the decade, 40s feel. Gilded doorway corners, brass lamps, oriental rugs, and elegant furniture decorate the Stanley household. The cast dons three piece suits and drop waist dresses, some with art deco flair taking us back in time.
The Pièce de Résistance
The man himself, Bill Chamberlain playing Whiteside is as commanding, arrogant, sarcastic, and curmudgeon-y as you want him to be. Even from his wheelchair, he still has a commanding presence, like a king sitting on his throne expecting everyone to work their way around him. He meddles in other people’s business that causes all kinds of conflicts and trouble for everyone else.
But luckily Chamberlain also plays Sherry with some charm, affability when he needs to be, and campy dictatorship so it never feels like we actually despise him. Instead we just find ourselves chuckling and rolling our eyes at his absurdity.
The rest of our cast jumps in with their predetermined character tropes, flitting around Sherry and getting involved in his little schemes.
Claire Rutkowski as Sherry’s right hand secretary Maggie Cutler takes pride in her work and runs a tight ship to keep things running smoothly for her boss. Though she softens when she finds herself in love, she’s still not to be trifled with and keeps Sherry in check if he’s overstepping his bounds.
Renae Stone as Harriet Stanley has us giggling in anticipation when she enters the stage wondering what weird present or quirky activity she’s going to get into next.
Zach Kunde and Joseph Adlesick as comedian Banjo and playwright Beverly Carlton, respectively, both jump off the stage with larger than life presences. Knude bounds energetically around the stage and literally picks up poor Nurse Preen played by Ellen Shaw. And Adlesick has both Sherry, Maggie, and the audience laughing out loud at his pompous British lord impression.
The rest of the family all have their moment alongside Sherry as well, some faring better than others.
The After Party Thoughts
While the cast did their part to become their characters, I wish the second act was better paced and snappier. Some of this is most likely due to how the play itself is written where it seems like we get one issue resolved but then it fails so they have to resolve the same issue again. So what I was craving was a faster pace to really give the second act that comedic punch it needed. I didn’t have the sense of chaotic, frenzied energy which to me is usually what makes these comedy of errors plays, well, comedic.
This production of The Man Who Came To Dinner has all the makings of those quintessential farce comedies of the early 20th century with multiple storylines, sarcastic humor and wordplay, and lots of mishaps because of the wrong advice. It is definitely dated, leaning into old references, stereotypes, and tropes that could be taken as campy if you look at it through a modern perspective perhaps. So for those that love these old comedies, want a show with a good chuckle or two, and don’t mind the almost three hour runtime, The Man Who Came to Dinner would be a good fit for you.
RECOMMENDED
When
Now through February 16, 2025
Where
St. Bonaventure
1625 W. Diversey
Chicago, IL 60614
Runtime: 2hrs 40min, with a 10 minute intermission
Tickets
$30+
Tickets can be purchased through the Saint Sebastian Players website
Photos
Sean Smyth
CAST
Joseph Adlesick – Beverly Carlton
Jered Becker – Bert Jefferson
Bill Chamberlain – Sheridan Whiteside
Jill Chukerman Test – Mrs. Ernest W. Stanley
Melinda “MJ” Deamon – Lorraine Sheldon/Mrs. Dexter
David R. Feiler – Mr. Stanley
Russ Gager – Dr. Bradley/Plainclothes Man
Charlotte Harris – Sarah
Zach Kunde – Banjo/Professor Metz
Harper McCoy – June Stanley
Jack Mitchell – Sandy/Mr. Baker/Westcott/Deputy
Claire Rutkowski – Maggie Cutler
Ellen Shaw – Miss Preen
Trey Sorensen – Richard Stanley/Expressman
Renae Stone – Harriet Stanley/Mrs. McCutcheon
Vito Vittore – John
CREATIVE
Producers – John Austin, Lauren Miller
Director – Sean Michael Barrett
Set Designer – Emil Zbella
Costume Designer – Mary McCarthy
Lighting Designer – Elliot DePappe
Sound Designer – Sean Smyth
Stage Manager – Abbey Schnell
Set Construction Manager – Jim Masini
Properties Manager – Paula Kenar
Publicity Director – Jill Chukerman Test
Dramaturg/Social Media Manager – Valerie Gerlock
House Manager – Nancy Pollock