Stage West’s latest production continues their history of comedy farce shows with Who’s Under Where?" playing until April 12^th.

Written in 1992 by Marcia Kash & Douglas E. Hughes, the show is all 80’s –big hair, corded phones, and over the top clothing. Designers Jane (Anna Cummer) and Sybil (Camille Pavlenko) have rented a fancy hotel suite to give a private fashion show to famous designer Bruno Fruferelli (Mark Bellamy.) The problem is, they haven’t told their husbands. Concerned about that their wives may be having an affair, Paul (David Sklar) and George (Dave Comeau) show up, and assumptions, door slams, mistaken identities and a half naked man in bunny shorts abound.

Physical comedy is very challenging, and Sklar does a stellar job. He could easily be Jack Tripper in a staged reboot of Three’s Company, his expressions sell the story as much as the script.

It’s always a pleasure to watch Mark Bellamy, who is clearly having a blast as the over-the-top designer in the second act.

The entire cast is exceptionally talented and throw everything into the often ridiculous situations on stage. Preston Vandramin as the aforementioned half naked model steals his scenes not just with his physical looks, but his sassy model strut. Curtis Sullivan’s steely security guard Roger Hodge adds to the whirlwind coming and going.

Kiera Gemsa’s costume design brings the 80’s back, and the fashion that is on the rack captures the era.

While the show is enjoyable with several laugh out loud moments, it’s frustrating that the biggest part of the story is Sklar and Comeau in drag being mistaken for bio women, even with Comeau’s moustache. It feels like punching down, and with the perception of "men in women’s clothing," whether drag queens or trans persons often under attack, it feels like punching down to make it the butt of the joke. While the show is a product of a different era, we can do better.

Before the chaos onstage, is the chaos of choosing your selections from the buffet. Highlights this run include Spanish Seafood Salad, Lemongrass Pork, Tempura Prawns, and Lemon Raspberry Cake. Fridays and Saturdays now feature a delicious roasted pork leg carvery with apple sauce.

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Locale Calgary |

Topic Stagewest | Theatre |