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‘The Underpants’

The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Underpants” through Feb. 5. Pictured are David Ring, playing Cohen, and Alyson Fowler playing Louise. Courtesy photo

 

PUTNAM — The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse is presenting the over-the-top farce “The Underpants.” It opened Jan. 20 and runs for three weekends. It contains adult humor.

Performances are January at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27, 28, Feb. 3 and 4 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 20 and Feb. 5. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance or at the door. As always, purchasing your tickets ahead of time is recommended.

The TNECT production of The Underpants is directed by Tonya Leigh Brock. Alyson Fowler appears as the young wife, Louise, and her husband, Theo, is played by Adam Leidemer.  The boarders are Vincent Chaisson as Versati and David Ring as Cohen. Sharon Starr plays Louise’s friend, Gertrude and Jim Douglas is Klinglehoff. 

The Underpants was written by Carl Sternheim and adapted by Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin – the actor, comedian, director, playwright and banjo master. The play is set in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1910. A young wife has a very public wardrobe malfunction during a parade for the king, when her underpants fall down around her ankles.  She is sure no one saw it but her husband is convinced it will be the end of his cherished civil service career. Things become complicated when the incident attracts two infatuated men who saw the undies fall and want to rent the empty room in the couple’s flat. Frank Versati is an elegant, foppish poet who wants Louise as his new muse. Benjamin Cohen is a whiny hypochondriac barber. Nosy neighbor Gertrude tries to add excitement to her own boring life by encouraging Louise to get involved with the boarders. Then there is the mysterious Klinglehoff.