Directed by Stanley Tucci, this revival of the popular farce, revived continually in regional and community theatres, is an enjoyable romp. The cast is headed by Justin Bartha who is making his Broadway debut and what a debut it is! Bartha is charming, possessed of a comic sense that would make Lucy proud. He is supported by Anthony LaPaglia and Tony Shalhoub as the the tenor Tito Merelli and the opera producer Saunders. The comically brilliant Jan Maxwell plays Tito’s wife Maria and the cast is rounded out by Mary Catherine Garrison as Maggie, Jay Klaitz as Bellhop, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Diana and the strangely inept Brooke Adams as Julia. With all the good actresses in New York, how the amateurish Brooke Adams can be allowed to bumble her way through this pay is a wonder. She has a resume, yes, and she most assuredly has an agent, but she isn’t funny and she can't read lines, so fire her. Otherwise the very good cast delivers a funny and entertaining farce, even if the pace slows at times, making some of the business seem to be over killed. There is a lovely luxury hotel set by John Lee Beatty and attractive period costumes by Martin Pakledinaz to put the finishing touches on the production with class.
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