THE UNDERPANTS
by Carl Sternheim, adapted by Steve Martin
APRIL 1, 2004 – JUNE 5, 2004
The Underpants is a contemporary adaptation of a turn-of-the-century farce about Theo Maske, a stuffed-shirt government clerk, and his young wife, Louise. When she accidentally drops her “unmentionables” at the King’s parade, Theo doesn’t know how to handle the lavish amount of male attention she suddenly receives. Events take a definitely “wild and crazy” turn as would-be suitors move into the Maske’s apartment as tenants and their nosy upstairs neighbor attempts to live vicariously through Louise.
Directed by Anthony Caselli
CAST:
PRESS QUOTES
“Director Anthony Caselli’s rapid-fire staging keeps the audience laughing from start to finish with a dazzling array of cartoonish, over-the-top characters who know a thing or two about compromising positions and well-timed entrances.”
– Judith Cookis Rubens, The Daily Oakland Press
“’The Underpants’ is yet another finely executed production in a season filled with such endeavors at the Purple Rose Theatre!”
– Donald V. Calamia, Between the Lines
“Under Anthony Caselli’s direction, each cast member seems perfectly suited to the task of ushering this nonsense into the new century. And designer Bartley Bauer’s apartment setting resonates down to the icebox in the kitchen and the canary in the cage.”
– Joan Behrmann, The Detroit News
“… it’s difficult to say who deserves the most credit for all that chortling in Chelsea: Sternheim for the story, writer-comedian Martin for the contemporary update (still set in 1910) or Caselli and his cast for their massive infusion of physical glee. Caselli and company would seem to get the nod.”
– Martin F. Kohn, Detroit Free Press
