By DANIEL SHOCK
Reviewed for A Seat on the Aisle
Shipwrecked: An Entertainment! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself) is a lighthearted, comedy with a vaudevillian style. Directed by Lori Raffel and presented by Carmel Community Players as their last show of the season, it will delight people of all ages who can sit still and laugh for 90 minutes.
The play, written by Donald Margulies, begins unexpectedly as our storyteller Louis de Rougemont walks on to stage with the house lights still up and the audience still chatting. He checks his props and then addresses the audience directly to give us the running time (90 minutes) and to settle us down and remind us to put our devices away. It almost felt as if we were being put to bed and getting ready for a story. My first thought as the show began was that Mr. Rougemont is very much like P.T. Barnum … a showman.
Shipwrecked is Rougemont’s story. Rougemont, hero and yarn spinner, was also enthralled by these same tales as a boy. Well, not Gilligan’s Island or any story written after 1868, the year our storyteller sets off on an adventure of his own. His tale has everything you want in a story, like this: a salty and morally ambiguous sea captain, sea monsters, rare treasure, harrowing events, sea turtles you can ride like a horse, love and a faithful dog. Our hero tells his account with the aid of six other performers, dressed in black, playing multiple characters who move seamlessly in and out of scenes, changing costumes and props right in front of us.
Director Lori Raffel has assembled a wonderful cast of actors for Shipwrecked. Earl Campbell as Louis de Rougemont carries the show on his shoulders with the energy of a 10-year-old boy who can hardly contain his excitement. Campbell barely has time to catch his breath as he narrates and acts his way through the story. He is charmingly funny as this dreamer, and he is perfectly cast.
The rest of the ensemble is equally funny and well-placed in their parts. Vickie Phipps and Joe Aiello (Player 1 and Player 2) have the larger supporting roles. Phipps starts off as our hero’s mother, reading him stories as he convalesces. She then has great fun as the Sea Captain, romantic interest and other roles. Aiello comes close to stealing the show as the ship’s trusty mascot and loyal canine. I doubled over with surprise and laughter with another of Aiello’s roles … I won’t spoil it. Filling out the rest of the roles are Margot Everitt, Jayda Glynn, Hannah Janowicz and Tom Smith. Each of them has their moment to shine and the show wouldn’t be what it is without them.
The technical aspects of the show are simple and well done. The set by director Lori Raffel allows the performance to shine. Costumes and props were put together by the cast and staff very effectively. Lights and sound by Karissa Monson and Lori Raffel highlighted the performances wonderfully.
I was surprised to read that Rougemont’s story is based on a true tale. My first thought, comparing Rougemont to Barnum, turned out to be not too far off – in my judgement. As Lori Raffel says in her director’s notes: “Based on a true story, part of the magic of Shipwrecked … is that the themes are timeless. Our need as a society to build heroes only so we can knock them down is as old as time. At the end of the play, you will have your own opinion on what is truth and what is embellishment in the story, and that is just how it should be.”
Shipwrecked presented by Carmel Community Players delivers plenty of laughs and adventure. Strongly recommended. The run time is 90 minutes. Appropriate for all ages.
Performances remaining include Sunday Aug. 14 and next weekend, Aug. 18 to 21. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. All performances are at The Cat in Carmel, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel.
Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors age 62 and older. For tickets, call the box office at (317) 815-9387 and leave a message. Do not leave credit card information in your message.