There comes a time in every person’s life when they need a good laugh and Steve DeBruyne’s latest production at The Dio in Pinckney delivered big laughs in their latest production “The Explorer’s Club”, an Off-Broadway comedy by Neil Benjamin, that opened in New York City Center in 2013.
The Explorer’s Club is a comedic farce, set in 1878, which brings to life a zany cast of explorers for the search for The Lost City of Pahatlabong. From the start, the ensemble cast, playing characters who feel so smug about their position among the stuffy British elite society, and everything that sets them apart from the commoners. What works so well in this show is that no one goes for laughs, rather, playing their roles with an aristocratic face, which makes this play so charming and full of belly laughs.
The cast includes Mark A. Eddy as Lucious Fretway, a shy botanist, who longs for the attention of Phyllida Spotte-Hume (Sarah B. Stevens). She seeks to become the first female member of the all-male Explorer’s Club. The awkwardness between them is a cute story line. It becomes complicated when Harry Percy (Christopher Bateson), an explorer of the frontier, arrives and immediately becomes a rival for the lady’s attention. The dialogue between the guys is reminiscent of locker-room conversations between teenage boys.
(L-R) Mark A. Eddy as Lucious Fretway and Christopher Bateson as Harry Percy. Photo by Michele Anliker Photography.
Other members of the club include Professor Cope (Dale Dobson), Professor Sloane (Donovan Leary) and Professor Walling (Dan Morrison). Ms. Spotte-Hume is invited to lecture at the club about the Lost City of Pahatlbong, and as proof of the city’s existence, she introduces Luigi (Nicholas Balfour), a member of a fictional tribe, The NaKong. Fresh from his performance in Big Fish, Balfour’s star shined bright in this role.
(L-R) Sarah B. Stevens as Phyllida Spotte-Hume, Nicholas Balfour as Luigi and Mark A, Eddy as Lucious Fretway. Photo by Michele Anliker Photography.
Luigi appears in so many scenes, often without saying a single word. Through time, an innocence and curiosity emerges that is endearing. Balfour memorized a made-up language, with unique hand gestures, that created hilarious moments when he was included in conversations. Inserted into a strange environment, Luigi frequently walked around, studying his new world, with a quizzical look on his face.
Balfour’s acting was at its best when, instead of talking, he communicated through his facial expressions. He was memorizing, it was hard not to look at him, no matter what slapstick comedy the other actors were doing.
Other cast members included Glenn Bagala (Sir Humphries), Richard Payton (Beebe/Irish Assassin). Sarah B. Stevens also played Countess Glamorgan, a look-alike relative of Spotte-Hume, which complicated an already complicated situation.
Sarah B. Stevens as Countess Glamorgan and Dan Morrison as Professor Walling. Photo by Michele Anliker Photography.
The Explorer’s Club was directed brilliantly by Steve DeBruyne. Set, Lighting and Sound Design by Matt Tomich and Costume Design by Carrie Sayer. There was a variety of accents used in the show, so dialect coaching was provided by Cate Gillespie.
The Explorer’s Club runs through Sunday, 8/9. You can purchase tickets by calling (517) 672-6009 or at www.diotheatre.com/reservations. The Dio is located at 177 E. Main St., in Pinckney. Dinner is served prior to the performance.
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