Theater review: ‘Man With the Pointed Toes’ at Glendale Centre
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Written by husband-and-wife team Lynn and Helen Root, “Man With the Pointed Toes” first saw light as a 1958 television production before premiering as a stage play at Glendale Centre Theatre in the mid-1960s. Now the play returns to the scene of its theatrical debut.
Historically speaking, that’s certainly heartwarming. Dramatically, it’s another story. Perhaps “Toes” was a rip-roarer back in its day, but it’s now a dusty velvet painting of a comedy with a paint-by-numbers plot that holds few surprises.
The story, in a chestnut shell, concerns Texas rancher Tom Coterel (Tommy Kearney), a new oil billionaire smitten by the purposefully seductive Pamela (Kelley Hurley). Out of his depth with Pamela, Tom hires bookwormish tutor Florence (Megan Blakeley) to smooth off his rough edges. Of course, as Florence successfully transforms Tom from a rube to a slicker, she falls in love with him. Will Tom realize just what a gem Florence is, or will he marry Pamela, a cubic zirconia in a gold-digger setting?
Fortunately, although the play sometimes falls short, the engaging cast, which includes Richard Large, Nick Mizrahi, Eric Orman, Shawn Cahill and Paul Nieman, garners its fair share of laughs. Under the tutelage of director Allan Dietlein, the actors all play to their stereotypes — a plus in this most obvious of plays. Nieman is particularly attractive as Tom’s matchmaking foreman, while Kearney and Blakeley develop a sweet romantic chemistry that compensates for a passel of triteness. ALSO:
Sandra Bernhard back at REDCAT with new show
More theater reviews from the Los Angeles Times
Thomas Kinkade — loved by many, loathed by art critics
— F. Kathleen Foley
“Man With the Pointed Toes,” Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. Ends May 5. $20-$25. (818) 244-8481. www.glendalecentretheatre.com. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.