Babcock Theatre's 'Razzle' is a farce that dazzles

ON THE RAZZLE, Babcock Theatre, University of Utah, through Jan. 29 (581-7100). Running time: two hours (one intermission).

Early in the play one of the characters announces, "One false move and we could have a farce on our hands." And the audience laughs, because they have already realized that "On the Razzle" is a farce in the truest sense of the word.

Tom Stoppard ("Arcadia," "Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead," "Shakespeare in Love") wrote the play. It was first performed in London in 1981. When you see it, you will think of "Hello, Dolly!" the musical, which is loosely based on an earlier Austrian work. Stoppard also based his play on the same Austrian work.

You will think of "Hello, Dolly!" but you will also think of Shakespeare.

Oh, the double entendres. Oh, the mistaken identities. Oh, the way a woman playing a man's part can put on a woman's cape and be mistaken for another character who is twice as tall.

Oh, the word play.

In short, Stoppard's text is amazing — but also quite challenging, especially for student actors.

The Babcock Theatre production ends up being quite amusing. Directed by Michael Unger, it features nearly a dozen seniors in the University of Utah's Actors Training Program. For some, it will be their last chance to work with their fellow students.

On opening night, it was clear that the actors were having a grand time together. A drink got spilled, a sign fell off the door, a few lines were confused — but, in the spirit of the farce, it all went forward in great fun.

Sean Kazarian plays Zangler, the pompous merchant. Hannah Stone is Christopher, Zangler's lowly apprentice. Kevin Stanfa is Weinberl, the shop assistant. When Zangler is away for a day, Weinberl and Christopher decide to spend a day in the city of Vienna. They've never been to the city before, and they don't know when they will ever get there again. So they plan to live it up, to be "on the razzle," for 24 hours.

These three are lively and winning in their roles. So, too, is Abraham Adams as Zangler's newly hired servant. One of the most amusing scenes in the play revolves around the servant showing up to apply for a job and negotiating with Zangler about including coffee at breakfast as part of his room and board. Stoppard gives us a little lesson on human nature as the job-seeker deftly maneuvers the man who is about to hire him.

There are other nice performances as well. Six-year-old Robin Young steals the final scene. She is so cute that she even melted Stanfa, on opening night.

The horse (played by Stacy Sobieski and Cory Huff, costumed by Brenda van Der Wiel) is another scene stealer. People in the audience flipped their heads to the back of the theater to watch the horse clamber up and down the stairs.

As with the rest of the play, they watched and they laughed.

Sensitivity rating: There is plenty of sexual innuendo, but it would be too subtle for most children to pick up on.

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