Vanguard

Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Fine Arts

USA Theatre opened its 2007-2008 season
this weekend with their production of
"The Butter and Egg Man." This "time
capsule portrait of theater in the 1920s"
written by George Kaufman has influenced
movies like "The Producers" and was
made a success once again.
The play opens with Joe Lehman and
Jack McClure, played by Drew Johnson
and John Cardy, discussing the fate of their
new production. The audience soon meets
Lehman's fiery wife, Fanny, played by Holly
Ladnier, who brings an interesting dynamic
to the scene with her witty wisecracks.
Johnson and Ladnier succeed in capturing
the tension existing between a husband and
a wife in the midst of trying circumstances.
Next, the audience meets Mr. Peter
Jones, played by Jason Peregoy. Mr. Jones is
the title character and "the butter and egg
man" who comes in and falls victim to
Lehman and McClure's plan to shove a
portion of the production into someone
else's hands.
Peregoy brings a child-like naivety to his
character, making the audience fall in love
with Mr. Jones.
Although Jones is hesitant to make a
quick decision, he is convinced to make the
investment after the lovely Jane Weston,
played by Amy Robertson, enters the scene.
It is immediately evident that Jones has
become infatuated with Weston.
Throughout the course of Jones and
Weston's budding relationship, Peregoy and
Robertson astoundingly portray the innocence
and awkwardness of falling "in love."
During the second act, the audience is
introduced to an array of characters at a
hotel room in Syracuse on the opening
night of the production.
Although this act seems incredibly random,
it is filled with witty remarks and
humorous situations. The bulk of the
action within this act consists of Jones conceding
to buying the remaining portion of
the production. Soon after, Jones persuades
the assistant manager of the hotel, Oscar
Fritichi played by Tyler Henderson, to
invest in half of the production.
At the opening of the third and final act,
Mr. Jones and Ms. Weston talk about the
future of the production. After a surprising
visit from A.J. Patterson, attorney at law,
Jones and Fritichi learn of the danger in
continuing with the production. Luckily,
Lehman and McClure return and take the
show off their hands, allowing them to
invest in the hotel business.
Andre Chiang, senior vocal performance
major, claimed that this production was a
"raucous explosion of laughter."
The performers excelled in making the
characters come alive. They captivated the
audience with their talent and engaged
them with their humor. As always, the USA
Theatre has produced yet another extraordinary
production worthy of much praise.

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