A comedy of errors in this Tony-winning show at SJCT

An old theatrical cliché states, “Dying is easy; comedy is hard.” Judging by the intricate pacing on stage at a recent rehearsal of the risqué farce, “Lend Me a Tenor,” whoever first uttered that lament was right on the money.

Andrew V. McLaglen directs the comedy — opening Friday at San Juan Community Theatre — based on Ken Ludwig’s smash Broadway hit. Its 1984 opening prompted the New York Post’s Clive Barnes to call it “a lovely dose of pure, operatic idiocy.”

When the curtain rises, the audience is transported to an art deco hotel suite in 1934 Cleveland as impresario Henry Saunders (Bill Lembeck) and his gofer Max (James Krall) prepare to welcome the arrival of world famous tenor Tito Merelli (Eric Concord).

Set to sing “Othello” for local opera buffs, Merelli has a reputation as a ladies man and Max is charged with ensuring his appearance in the theater that night.

Complicating matters is Max’s star-struck girlfriend (Susan Williamson) who has a crush on Merelli. Then there’s the tenor’s tempestuous, long-suffering wife Maria (Susan Williams) and the local diva (Dawn Nivinski) who is sleeping her way to the New York Met and senses another conquest.

Rounding out the nutty group is an intrusive bellhop (Ernest Pugh) who unaccountably speaks perfect Italian and the slightly daffy chairman of the opera guild, Julia (Maureen See).

Distraught over his wife’s accusations of hanky-panky, “Il Stupendo” washes down too many sleeping pills with copious amounts of Chianti, ending up comatose (or dead, we’re not sure which) in the suite’s bedroom.

Saunders, seeing his career going down in flames, contrives to have Max stand in for Merelli, hoping the black make-up of the “Othello” role will fool the audience.

A comedy of errors ensues, as each self-serving character moves the plot toward a satisfying conclusion.

The set design by theater veteran Dick Lankford plays its own role. There are six doors leading to closets, bathrooms and corridors and the actors must navigate carefully, timing their entrances and exits perfectly. How well they do it is part of the fun.

“Those six doors open and close real fast. The audience must keep track of who is going where and why,” McLaglen pointed out.

“Saunders is the neurotic glue holding the action together until everything goes nuts,” said versatile island actor Bill Lembeck commenting on his character. “And though the cast knows every joke, we still laugh every time,” he chuckled.

One reason the play appealed to McLaglen is the amount of physical humor involved. “This is my ninth production for SJCT, ranging from musicals (“Shenandoah”) to light humor (“Mr. Roberts”) and now to all-out farce. One of my real joys as a director has been the chance to do both drama and comedy.”

The play proper is followed by an elaborate curtain call as the actors frantically pantomime the entire action in 85 seconds to the sounds of Jacque Ibert’s equally frantic Divertissement.

Friday night, CATS host an after-the-show-meet-the-cast party with an elegant Italian-themed array of wine, antipasto and music in the Gubelman Room.

“Lend Me a Tenor” runs March 1-2, 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are 5 p.m. March 3 and 2 p.m. March 9-10. Tickets are available through the SJCT box office at 378-3210.

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