STAGE REVIEW : Chekhov Wit Sets Stage for Simon

Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor” pays tribute to the early work of Anton Chekhov, the one-act vaudevilles and farcical sketches which the Russian playwright adapted from his fictional writings before he reached the pinacle of his career with complex masterpieces like “The Seagull,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “Uncle Vanya” and “The Three Sisters.”

Simon’s 1973 comedy consists of 10 short farces which the contemporary playwright adapted from Chekhov short stories, which capture the Russian author’s generous sense of wit and whimsy.

The North Coast Repertory Theatre’s current production of “The Good Doctor” is a precise, intelligent, humorous affair. Director Daniel Yurgaitis’ 2 1/2-hour staging flows with grace and confidence, and a potent, plucky cast helps make this slice-of-life a la Chekhov a worthwhile venture.

An on-stage Chekhov (Ocie Robinson)--who acts as narrator--frames the action in “The Good Doctor.” As the audience filters into the North Coast Rep’s intimate Solana Beach space, Chekhov is seated on stage, writing at a desk. When the house lights dim and the play begins, he looks up from his pad and notices the audience. Happy for the distraction from his work, Chekhov begins chatting and subsequently offers to tell a story. But he doesn’t tell the story, he shows it.

“It starts in a theater,” Chekhov says, and the lights shift to herald “The Sneeze,” a silly and occasionally hilarious story about a bureaucrat (Randall Walton) who accidentally sneezes on his superior (John Phillips). “The Sneeze” is pure slapstick--”The Three Stooges” with Russian accents--it exploits a tired form of physical comedy, but it still draws laughs, particularly when Walton reenacts his fatal expulsion in tantalizing slow-motion.

The other vignettes demonstrate a more subtle humor. “The Governess” depicts a negotiation over salary between a seemingly greedy employer (Rhona Gold) and a timid governess (Michelle Napolitano). Just when the sketch begins to grow tedious, the situation shifts and reveals Chekhov’s delicious wit. “The Seduction” features Robinson as a devious bachelor who seduces women from a distance; the musical interlude--”Too Late For Happiness”--depicts a tender moment of contact between two widowed seniors (Rhona Gold and John Phillips); “A Quiet War” chronicles a bizarre debate between two men (John Christopher Guth and Eric Medlin) as they attempt to visualize the perfect lunch.

The acting ensemble is solid and consistent. Each performer plays numerous roles throughout the evening, and each meets with some degree of success. Phillips demonstrates the most range, playing everything from a street urchin who drowns himself for money to a reserved, high-brow government official, to a clergyman with a toothache. Gold also shows versatility in her various roles.

As the narrating Chekhov, Robinson proves to be an amiable host, if somewhat one-dimensional. Robinson speaks directly to the audience before and after sketches, and he maintains a consistent voice for Chekhov throughout the evening. Too consistent, perhaps. Robinson relies heavily on his disarming smile to communicate with the audience. A more varied stage demeanor would have given his performance added depth.

Robinson also was the scenic designer for the play, and here, his talents were well-fitted to the task. Once again, as the North Coast Rep’s resident designer, Robinson has engineered a beautiful, functional scenic environment. Robinson’s design for “The Good Doctor” consists of a stage-within-a-stage setting, complete with a proscenium arch, a red theater curtain and “hidden” doors on either side of the stage. Robinson’s set meshes well with Patrick Byrne’s evocative lighting design.

Costume designer John-Bryan Davis continues his winning streak with “The Good Doctor.” His costumes manage precisely what a designer’s work should--he captures the appropriate style of the period, he delineates the various characters from one another, and he manages both tasks with a deft sense of artistry. The North Coast Rep is fortunate to have him.

Similarly, San Diego County audiences are fortunate to have this production of “The Good Doctor.”

“THE GOOD DOCTOR”

By Neil Simon. Music and orchestrations by Peter Link. Director is Daniel Yurgaitis. Set by Ocie Robinson. Lights by Patrick Byrnes. Costumes by John-Bryan Davis. Sound consultant is Michael Shapiro. Stage manager is Paula Rodgers. With Rhona Gold, John Christopher Guth, Eric Medlin, Michelle Napolitano, John Phillips, Ocie Robinson and Randall Walton. At 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, through July 13. Tickets are $12-$14. North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987-D Lomas Sante Fe Drive, Solana Beach. 481-1055