{"id":364544,"date":"2025-02-18T08:02:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T13:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/?p=364544"},"modified":"2025-02-18T08:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T13:02:36","slug":"witty-script-and-slapstick-in-mets-the-commedia-princess-and-the-pea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dctheaterarts.org\/2025\/02\/18\/witty-script-and-slapstick-in-mets-the-commedia-princess-and-the-pea\/","title":{"rendered":"Witty script and slapstick in MET’s ‘The Commedia Princess and the Pea’"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) production of The Commedia Princess and the Pea<\/em>, the fun begins for the youngsters \u2014 many of them elementary and pre-K age \u2014 well before they ever get inside the theater. The lobby and hallway are full of balloons, balloon animals, face painting, crayons, and a juggler.<\/p>\n

Then the show begins, with chaos well organized by director Stephen Craig, as the four actors scramble to get costumes \u2014 not always the right ones at first \u2014 deploy props, and figure out who is playing which character. Columbina (Jennifer Pagano) assigns Areliquine (Karli Cole) to play the lonely Prince (not the pea, as she had initially feared), Rosetta (Molly Parchment) to play the scheming Queen, and Punchin (Fred Fletcher-Jackson) to play the Queen\u2019s musician and co-conspirator while reserving the role of the Princess for herself. The characters track, without being too literal about, stock Commedia types.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Molly Parchment as Rosetta, Jennifer Pagano as Columbina, and Kari Cole as Arlequine in Maryland Ensemble Theatre\u2019s FUN Co. production of \u2018The Commedia Princess and the Pea.\u2019 Photo by Spence Photographics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Characters proliferate as the show proceeds. Columbina and Punchin enter as a rapid-fire series of improbable, unsuccessful princesses. Rosetta insists on popping in as a Fairy Godmother, while Arequiline wanders on as a knight with a Southern accent. In a nod to the Italian origins of the Commedia form, Columbina gives us an intentionally corny Italian accent.<\/p>\n

True to the Commedia style, gestures and movements are comically exaggerated, with plenty of slapstick to go around. There is lively music in sound designer Kaydin Hamby\u2019s varied underscoring, much of which is derived from classical or opera sources (introducing the Princess with an \u201cAve Maria\u201d was a bit odd), and comic dancing to go with it. The energy of the actors\u2019 movement and their high level of physical acting skill are exemplary throughout.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the key plot point, the actors stack trunks and other elements of Jeremy Myers\u2019 prop design on Rhett Wolford\u2019s simple but functional multicolored set to form the bed on which the Princess, of course, cannot get to sleep because of the tiny pea underneath the pile. Not just the underlying costumes \u2014 the Princess\u2019s patchwork skirt is particularly fun \u2014 but the variable costume bits in Julie Herber\u2019s design add color and delineate the characters. Commedia masks were not part of the design, however.<\/p>\n

\"\"
LEFT: Molly Parchment as Rosetta, Kari Cole as Arlequine, and Fred Fletcher-Jackson as Punchin; RIGHT: Kari Cole as Arlequine, Fred Fletcher-Jackson as Punchin, and Jennifer Pagano as Columbina, in Maryland Ensemble Theatre\u2019s FUN Co. production of \u2018The Commedia Princess and the Pea.\u2019 Photos by Spence Photographics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to the physical antics of the troupe, the witty script by Lane Riosley and Rebecca L. Byars gives adults in the audience as well as the kids plenty to chuckle about. The rhyming verse exchanges between the Queen and Punchin were particularly delightful.<\/p>\n

I took care to watch the audience during the show: the kids were paying attention to what was going on, not squirming, seemingly not bored. That\u2019s always a good sign that a show directed at a young audience is working. I had not seen one of MET\u2019s \u201cFUN Company\u201d shows before. In this production, the company does a fine job of providing entertainment to its audience that is of good professional quality, avoids being cloying or condescending, introduces kids to an important theatrical form without being \u201cinstructional\u201d in tone, and surrounds the play itself with activities that all comers enjoyed.<\/p>\n

Running Time: 55 minutes, with no intermission.<\/p>\n

The Commedia Princess and the Pea<\/em><\/strong><\/a> plays through March 9, 2025, at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, <\/a>31 West Patrick Street in downtown Frederick, MD (across the street from the Weinberg Center). Performances are Saturdays at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm and Sundays at 1:30 pm. Patrons are encouraged to come early to enjoy the pre-show activities. Tickets ($17\u2013$20, with discounts for children, seniors, and military) can be purchased by phone at 301-694-4744 or online.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

MET’s FUN Company presents
\nThe Commedia Princess and the Pea<\/em><\/strong>
\nBy Lane Riosley and Rebecca L. Byars
\nDirected by Stephen Craig<\/p>\n

CAST
\nKarli Cole: Arlequine
\nMolly Parchment: Rosetta
\nJennifer Pagano: Columbina
\nFred Fletcher-Jackson: Punchin<\/p>\n

CREATIVE TEAM
\nStephen Craig: Director
\nMelynda Burdette Wintrol: Interim Managing Director
\nCody James: Technical Director
\nAJ George-Wright: Stage Manager
\nKaydin Hamby: Sound Design
\nJulie Herber: Costume Design
\nJeremy Myers: Props Designer
\nRhett Wolford: Set Design
\nAshley Federico: Lighting Design<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The cast\u2019s high-energy physical acting skills are exemplary throughout this enjoyable Maryland Ensemble Theatre production. By BOB ASHBY<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":364599,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-364544","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-childrens-theater","8":"category-reviews"},"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nWitty script and slapstick in MET's 'The Commedia Princess and the Pea' - 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