Chicago actor Paul Slade Smith has written a new comedy titled "Unnecessary Farce." Set in two adjoining hotel rooms with connecting doors, the show is running through Nov. 19 at the BoarsHead Theater in Lansing, Mich., where the actor/playwright Kristine Thatcher serves as artistic director (and director of the show). Slade Smith, a popular figure on the Chicago musical-theater scene, currently is in the national tour of "Wicked." His show is populated by a slew of Chicago actors, including David Girolmo, Erin Noel Grennan, Doug MacKechnie, and Kate Berry.

Compiled by Chris Jones

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

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That banging noise you hear in the Midwest starting Oct. 25 is probably coming from the first performance of the world-premiere play "Unnecessary Farce" at Lansing's BoarsHead Theatre.

The resident Equity company's artistic director Kristine Thatcher directs the door-slamming comedy by Paul Slade Smith. It concerns two rookie cops and one crooked mayor "in two motel rooms with eight working doors," according to BoarsHead.

The production runs Oct. 25-Nov. 19. Opening night is Oct. 27. New York-based actor-playwright Smith, currently on tour with "Wicked", has been in residence in Lansing since Oct. 3 for rehearsals.

Smith and actress-wife Erin Noel Grennan (who appears in the comedy) were fixtures in the Chicago acting community until their recent move to New York City.

According to BoarsHead, "'Unnecessary Farce" is a comedy in the mode of traditional farce, with a contemporary, American spin. In a cheap motel room, an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his female accountant. In the room next door, two undercover cops are supposed to catch the meeting on videotape. But there's some confusion as to who's in which room. And who's being videotaped. And who's taken the money. And who's hired a hit man. And why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes."

The cast also features Doug MacKechnie as Officer Eric Sheridan; Erin Noel Grennan as Officer Billie Dwyer; Kate Berry as Karen Brown (the accountant); Jim Wisniewski as Agent Frank (head of Town Hall security); David Girolmo as Todd (the hit man); Merrill Wyble as Mayor Meekly; and Carmen Decker as Mary Meekly (the mayor's wife).

The design team includes Shelley Barish (sets), Jeffrey Shepherd (lighting and sound) and Holly Speers (costumes).

Smith penned "Unnecessary Farce" while touring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. His first play, Hymn & Carol, debuted at the Shattered Globe Theatre in Chicago. As an actor, he is appearing as the Witch's Father in the first national tour of "Wicked". He is the recipient of Chicago's After Dark Award, and two Joseph Jefferson Award nominations.

Why a farce? Playwright Smith previously told Playbill.com, "Many of my greatest experiences as an actor — some of my most thrilling, memorable moments on stage — have been in farces: 'A Flea in Her Ear', 'Lend Me A Tenor'…Ayckbourn's 'Norman Conquests' and 'Taking Steps'. Even a lot of the Shakespeare I've done is farce —' Comedy of Errors', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Even 'Love's Labors' Lost' has that wonderful, farcical scene that comes out of nowhere at the end of the play."

He continued, "A farce — a great farce — is so exhilarating, for both the actors, and the audience. They're so fun to play — to be absolutely serious and intent on some impossible quest, and to have the audience just so caught up, and enjoying every mistake that happens on the way. So that's what I set out to write. I love actors. I wanted to write a play that was as fun for the actors as the audience. That's a joy to play and to watch."

The play was developed on the road, but not in the way most plays are — not in traditional tryouts. "I was touring with 'The Phantom of the Opera' when I started it, and so we would do readings with the Phantom cast in various hotel rooms — which was always perfect, because it takes place in hotel rooms," Smith said. "And then when I joined the 'Wicked cast', we did a reading in a hotel in Houston, with Carol Kane, and David Garrison, and Stephanie Block and Timothy Britain Parker, who were all in the tour. We also did a partially-staged reading at the Victory Gardens Theatre [in Chicago]."

How did Smith's play come to surface at BoarsHead in Lansing?

"I sent a copy of the play, unsolicited, to Kristine Thatcher, who had just become artistic director at BoarsHead," Smith said, adding that they had acted together in Chicago. "She set it aside at the time, and three months later pulled it out and read it, and called me up and told me she'd like to include it in the following season — the first season she was putting together as [BoarsHead's] artistic director. I'm thrilled she's directing it."

For information call the BoarsHead at (517) 484-7805 or visit www.boarshead.org.

For more information, visit www.unnecessaryfarce.com.

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Playwright Paul Slade Smith has a lot of reasons to like Lansing. The last time the actor-playwright was here was for the BoarsHead production of "Inherit the Wind" five years ago. During the final weekend of that show, he married fellow actor Erin Noel Grennan.

"I have lots of romantic memories of Lansing," Smith said. He's back in town to see "Unnecessary Farce," the first play he's written since 1991, be produced. He finished writing it late last year while he was touring with "The Phantom of the Opera." In January 2006, BoarsHead artistic director Kristine Thatcher called to tell him she wanted to produce it as part of this year's season.

Smith considers himself fortunate to have Thatcher handling his work.

"Kristine is a wonderful director. She has a real understanding of the play," he said. "There has been a lot more collaboration than I thought there would be. I've been an active participant in rehearsals. Kristine runs rehearsals the way she wants them when she is the playwright. I'm so grateful that she's taking a chance on a brand new play."

Smith arrived in Lansing with his wife to join a cast that includes such local favorites as Carmen Decker and Merrill Wyble. Smith has been busy rewriting scenes, changing wording and watching the choreography of the farce.

Smith praised the cast, saying they all had been adventurous, willing to take the characters to the height of farce while still finding subtle shading.

When Smith leaves for Toronto later this month, his farewell to Lansing will be but temporary. He'll return this summer to Wharton Center to perform as Elphaba's father in the touring production of "Wicked."

Show details: "Unnecessary Farce," onstage Wednesday through Nov. 19 at BoarsHead Theater, 425 S. Grand Ave. Tickets are $20-$35, with discounts for students, at 484-7805.

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The noise expected in central lower Michigan come Oct. 25 will be the sound of slamming doors, indicating a fast and furious new farce at The BoarsHead Theatre in Lansing.

The resident Equity company's artistic director Kristine Thatcher will direct the world premiere of Paul Slade Smith's "Unnecessary Farce", about two rookie cops and one crooked mayor "in two motel rooms with eight working doors."

The production will run Oct. 25-Nov. 19. Opening is Oct. 27. New York-based actor-playwright Smith, currently on tour with "Wicked", will be in residence in Lansing Oct. 3-27 for rehearsals and the first week of performances. Smith's actress wife Erin Noel Grennan (who will appear in the comedy) were fixtures in the Chicago acting community until their recent move to New York City.

According to BoarsHead, "'Unnecessary Farce' is a comedy in the mode of traditional farce, with a contemporary, American spin. In a cheap motel room, an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his female accountant. In the room next door, two undercover cops are supposed to catch the meeting on videotape. But there's some confusion as to who's in which room. And who's being videotaped. And who's taken the money. And who's hired a hit man. And why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes."

The cast will feature Doug MacKechnie as Officer Eric Sheridan; Erin Noel Grennan as Officer Billie Dwyer; Kate Berry as Karen Brown (the accountant); Jim Wisniewski as Agent Frank (head of Town Hall security); David Girolmo as Todd (the hit man); Merrill Wyble as Mayor Meekly; and Carmen Decker as Mary Meekly (the mayor's wife).

The design team includes Shelley Barish (sets), Jeffrey Shepherd (lighting and sound) and Holly Speers (costumes).

Smith penned "Unnecessary Farce" while touring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera". His first play," Hymn & Carol", debuted at the Shattered Globe Theatre in Chicago. As an actor, he is appearing as the Witch's Father in the first national tour of "Wicked". He is the recipient of Chicago’s After Dark Award, and two Joseph Jefferson Award nominations.

Why a farce? Playwright Smith told Playbill.com, "Many of my greatest experiences as an actor — some of my most thrilling, memorable moments on stage — have been in farces: 'A Flea in Her Ear', 'Lend Me A Tenor'…Ayckbourn's 'Norman Conquests' and 'Taking Steps'. Even a lot of the Shakespeare I've done is farce — 'Comedy of Errors', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Even 'Love's Labors' Lost' has that wonderful, farcical scene that comes out of nowhere at the end of the play."

He continued, "A farce — a great farce — is so exhilarating, for both the actors, and the audience. They're so fun to play — to be absolutely serious and intent on some impossible quest, and to have the audience just so caught up, and enjoying every mistake that happens on the way. So that's what I set out to write. I love actors. I wanted to write a play that was as fun for the actors as the audience. That's a joy to play and to watch."

The play was developed on the road, but not in the way most plays are — not in traditional tryouts. "I was touring with 'The Phantom of the Opera' when I started it, and so we would do readings with the Phantom cast in various hotel rooms — which was always perfect, because it takes place in hotel rooms," Smith said. "And then when I joined the 'Wicked' cast, we did a reading in a hotel in Houston, with Carol Kane, and David Garrison, and Stephanie Block and Timothy Britain Parker, who were all in the tour. We also did a partially-staged reading at the Victory Gardens Theatre [in Chicago]."

How did Smith's play come to surface at BoarsHead in Lansing?

"I sent a copy of the play, unsolicited, to Kristine Thatcher, who had just become artistic director at BoarsHead," Smith said, adding that they had acted together in Chicago. "She set it aside at the time, and three months later pulled it out and read it, and called me up and told me she'd like to include it in the following season — the first season she was putting together as [BoarsHead's] artistic director. I'm thrilled she's directing it."

For information call the BoarsHead at (517) 484-7805 or visit www.boarshead.org.

For more information, visit www.unnecessaryfarce.com.

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