THE UNDERSTUDY      
Roundabout Theatre Company

By Roz Friedman

“Get in the Truck!” You may find it difficult to forget that phrase and all that it implies after seeing “The Understudy.”  Theresa Rebeck seems to be capable of creating plays in many styles. This time around she’s come up with a funny spoof that’s a comedy wrapped up in a commentary about theater called The “Understudy.”  This is one clever piece of writing starring three felicitous stars.

Take note: while everyone is trying to get a ticket to see Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in “A Steady Rain,” and complaining that they can’t, there are two of the best-looking, charming guys, Mark-Paul Gosselar and Justin Kirk, on stage at the Laura Pels. They just don’t sit; under Scott Ellis’s wildly spirited direction, they throw themselves all over the ever-changing set, designed expertly by Alexander Dodge and lit by Kenneth Posner.  Gosselar, who is currently starring in the TNT drama “Raising the Bar,” and who worked for Dennis Franz in one of my very favorite TV shows. “NYPD Blue,” is making an auspicious Broadway debut here. He is Jake, a movie star performing in his first Broadway show by Kafka. He is full of himself because he just starred in a film that made 69 million dollars! And, of course, Rebeck avers-you can’t have a Broadway show without a movie star.  

Justin Kirk, who has earned many nominations and awards for his stage and TV work,

particularly in “Angels in America,” and is presently well-known for his role in “Weeds,” is Harry, the understudy for Jake. With spiky hair and rumpled clothes, Harry is the quintessential actor, who insists he is not bitter, even though he doesn’t make much money, and has had to change his name. His observations, obviously the playwright’s, are hysterical. He challenges Jake, by pointing out that among the explosions and exploding guns, all this star had to say in the sold-out film was, “GET IN THE TRUCK!”  And the writers of this script really had no work to do.   Moreover, he really knows how to take over a scene with nuance.  After his initial resistance, Jake recognizes and acknowledges Harry’s talents, which are far greater than his.

We meet these guys in a rehearsal run by the harried Stage Manager, Roxanne, a part the wonderful Julie White invests with all the angst she can muster. First, she is shocked to discover that Harry is her former fiancée Robert Merrill, who deserted her years ago. An actress turned Stage Manager, she is fighting with a woman techie, who is supposed to be changing the sets and lighting, but is high on something. And they are all dealing with unseen Bruce, another movie star who is the top banana.

I loved the dance at the end; it is a finale that underlines all the theater jokes and entendres running rampant through this Roundabout production of  “The Understudy” at the Laura Pels Th. on West 46th st. an Off Broadway Theatre on Broadway. 

This review originally aired on WMNR 88.1FM FINE ARTS RADIO