Theater has a singular ability to whisk us into another world, and the John Hand Theater is the perfect intimate room for such a trip.
In Firehouse Theater Company’s latest production, Anthony Shaffer’s “Sleuth,” the set at the Hand is practically a cast member. One behaves immediately upon entering the room decked out with the clubby atmosphere of a British detective writer’s library: carved mahogany furniture and classical music on a Victrola, crystal Scotch decanters, antique board games and a well-oiled manual typewriter.
As the lights come down, the audience hears only the clack of that typewriter.
Combine this sound with the line, “I understand you want to marry my wife,” and the mood is set — locked and loaded.
“Sleuth” is a worthy warhorse of a play about a cunning and potentially deadly match of wits between two men.
Considered the late Shaffer’s best work, this 1970 play was brought to life on film by Sir Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in 1972.
Given the age of the work and myriad opportunities to see the film, the story’s revelations might be well-known to a theatergoing majority. The plot is a rollicking unraveling of revenge with alternating moments of frantic action and simmering strategy.
Andrew Wyke has invited Milo Tindle, a travel agent who has taken up with Wyke’s wife, to his home to offer him a chance at happiness with Marguerite — and part of their small fortune in jewels — if he agrees to take part in a caper to steal the insured jewels from a safe in the room.
Milo falls for it, and in the process finds himself playing into Andrew’s need to extract revenge at a humiliating price.
The interplay between the two men — in character and as actors — is zesty entertainment, beginning as an alpha display of intellectual bullying and building to a fight for the final upper hand.
As Andrew, Paul Page gets the tour de force role in “Sleuth” — he’s no slouch, it’s the Olivier role — playing the older, married man to Chris Bleau’s youngish cuckolder.
Page is a must-see British seether, his Andrew a man in a constant intellectual sneer whose imagination exceeds his reach.
Bleau, who recently appeared in “12 Angry Men” with Page at the Hand, has a few focus problems as Milo, dropping his accent occasionally. But Bleau, who conjured Colin Firth in appearance and demeanor (even in his bounder’s cheap suit), proved a strong counterpoint to Page, especially as the plot revealed itself.
Page displays a truly cruel edge, humiliating his rival to the point of actual audience discomfort. He is seduced by his own story, and in his love for the game he is playing we see him step closer to madness. It’s a role to be relished, and Page nearly loses himself as a man losing it. He also steps on a few of Bleau’s lines, bringing the swordplay to an interestingly realistic, if distracting, level.
The stairway is the scene of a pivotal moment and is unfortunately not in the line of sight of a good 20 seats. But the joy is in Shaffer’s crackling dialogue, and in Page and Bleau’s ability to bring it to life.
Angela Clemmons can be reached at 303-954-1516 or by email at aclemmons@denverpost.com
“Sleuth” *** (out of four stars)
Mystery. Presented by Firehouse Theatre Company at the John Hand Theatre, 7653 East First Place (at Lowry). Written by Anthony Shaffer. Directed by Rick Bernstein. Starring Paul Page and Chris Bleau. Through Nov. 8. 2 hours, 20 minutes. 7:30 p.m. Remaining performances: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Nov. 1, Nov. 7 and Nov. 8; 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. $14-$17. 303-562-3232 or
This weekend’s theater openings
“Anything Goes” Coal Creek Community Theatre presents Cole Porter’s classic musical about Reno Sweeney and Billy Crocker. Through Nov. 16. At Northglenn High School, 601 W. 100th Place, 303-665-0955 or
“As You Like It” Shakespearean comedy featuring his greatest heroine, Rosalind, the girl who dresses like a boy to teach the boy how to get the girl. Through Nov. 29. OpenStage & Company, Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-221-6730 or
“I Am My Own Wife” Erik Sandvold comes to Colorado Springs’ TheatreWorks to reprise his acclaimed 2006 role as the real-life German transvestite who has survived both the Nazi and Communist regimes. Through Nov. 9. At Bon Vivant Theater, 3955 Cragwood Drive, 719-262-3232 or
“Fat Pig” Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company presents Neil LaBute’s tale of a young, handsome exec who falls for a “plus-sized” woman. Will their relationship be able to endure the societal pressures that surround them? Don’t count on it. Through Nov. 23. Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or
“Fuddy Meers” David Lindsay-Abaire’s freaky screwball comedy (and Pulitzer winner) about a woman who wakes each morning as a blank slate. Through Nov. 16. Longmont Theatre Company, 513 Main St., 303-772-5200 or
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” Throwback musical based on the 1954 film, including “Blue Skies,” “How Deep is the Ocean” and, of course, the title song. Through Jan. 3. Carousel Dinner Theatre, 3509 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or
“Mame” Jerry Herman’s classic musical about the eccentric Mame Dennis and her bohemian clique. Through Dec. 14 (reprising Dec. 31-Jan. 4). Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or
“Speech and Debate” Three high-school misfits linked by a town sex scandal decide the only way to get to the truth is to form their school’s first speech and debate team. This is one of the first stagings of this clever comedy anywhere since it premiered in New York last year. Written by Stephen Karam. Through Dec. 13. Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or
This weekend’s theater closings
Today, Oct. 31: Gaslight’s “Blithe Spirit” Westminster
Saturday, Nov. 1: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Noises Off” (at the Stage Theatre)
Saturday, Nov. 1: Shadow’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Saturday, Nov. 1: Bug Theatre’s “Night of the Living Dead”
Saturday, Nov. 1: Backstage’s “The Mystery of Irma Vep” Breckenridge
Saturday, Nov. 1: Thin Air Theatre’s “Frankenstein of Cripple Creek” Cripple Creek
Saturday, Nov. 1: Adams Mystery Playouse’s “Welcome . . . to Murder Mortuary”
Saturday, Nov. 1: Bovine Metropolis’ “Bovanity Fair”
Sunday, Nov. 2: Vintage Theatre’s “Murderers”
Sunday, Nov. 2: Festival Playhouse’s “It was a Dark and Stormy Night” Arvada
Compiled by John Moore
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of every currently running production in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page.
This week’s video podcast: “Speech and Debate”
Running Lines with . . . Laura Jo Trexler, Steven J. Burge and Glen Moore, who don the personas of their Curious Theatre alter egos for a short conversation with John Moore. Run time: 4 minutes.
