By Mark A. Nobles/Special to the Times-Review
The holiday season is fast approaching, and for most that means a social calendar as gridlocked as mall traffic on Black Friday.
For many the highlight of the season is the family dinner with the traditional turkey and dressing smothered with heaps of stress gravy.
If your family dinner is filled with more jibes than giblets, the Plaza’s new production, “Beau Jest,” will make you feel better about your kinfolk because your family cannot possibly be more stress-inducing than the Goldman clan.
Abe and Miriam Goldman want the best for their two grown children, Joel and Sarah.
For Sarah that means a good, Jewish boyfriend.
Sarah must hide her dating relationship with a decidedly non-Jewish, Chris.
When Miriam begins to set up Sarah on a long string of blind dates with good Jewish boys, Sarah decides to invent the perfect Jewish boyfriend.
When Abe and Miriam want to meet the fictitious boyfriend, Sarah, in desperation, hires Bob, an out-of-work actor, to pretend to be her make-believe beau.
The lovely and talented Camille Shaw plays Sarah with harried exuberance.
Shaw’s energy paces the show and her chemistry with JaceSon P. Barrus is funny and natural.
Barrus plays out of work actor Bob with an innocent, good natured glee.
Understated usually isn’t an adjective used to describe Barrus’ stage work, but it fits here.
If you caught Barrus’ high octane performance in Plaza’s “Music Man,” you will be impressed with his range in switching gears for “Beau Jest.”
J. Aaron Lett turns in another strong comic turn as Joel, Sarah’s divorced brother. Lett is the perfect comic sidekick and makes the most of his role.
Luke Hunt plays Sarah’s secret boyfriend with a lost-puppy-dog demeanor. Hunt‘s time on stage is brief but pivotal, and you can’t help but feel sorry for his poor character.
Darcy Farrington and Jay Cornils play Sarah’s over-protective parents, Miriam and Abe Goldman, to the hilt. Both display spot on comic timing and elicit the largest laughs of the evening.
“Beau Jest” is a comic gem adeptly staged and paced by director G. Aaron Siler.
It is the perfect play leading into the harried holiday season and the many family gatherings that lay ahead.
Come Thanksgiving, as you sit listening to your great uncle drone on about his bursitis, you can at least be thankful you aren’t a part of the crazy Goldman clan.
Performing arts school
A quick note about the upcoming Plaza Academy Performing Arts School’s Broadway Tour.
Students and area actors will perform a review at 7:30 p.m. Monday packed full of musical numbers from many of your favorite musicals.
“Broadway Bound Musical Review” promises to be a fun, energetic and entertaining night.
Best of all the entire proceeds of the evening go toward paying for the students’ trip to Broadway in February.
In New York the students will attend four Broadway shows, tour the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Julliard and two other venues.
They will also meet actors working on Broadway. Attend Broadway Bound and support these kids and have a rollicking good time doing so.
The Plaza’s production of “Beau Jest” continues through Nov. 14. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, with two performances Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m.
For information and reservations call 817-202-0600 or visit www.plaza-theatre.com.
