REVIEW: SAM AND BELLA SPEWACK'S "MY THREE ANGELS"

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

By Kathy Carpenter

Stagehouse Theatre, Grossmont College

Playing December 6, 7, 8th at 7:30, and Dec. 8th at 2 p.m. 

http://www.grossmont.edu/theatrebrochure/plays1213Season.asp

Based on La Culisine Des Anges - by Albert Husson

December 4, 2012 (El Cajon)--As a reviewer, I appreciate the fresh ways theatres keep coming up with to take care of housekeeping at the beginning of plays. The dos and don't of the theatre. In this case, the rules were read in French and then repeated by someone with a French accent, setting the tone of the play which takes place in the back of a store in Cayenne, French Guiana, on Christmas Eve 1910.

The director, play Jerry Hager says the movie version of this play is the 1955 version of We're No Angels. That classic, along with It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, were his family staples and favorites to celebrate the season when he was growing up.

If you have never seen the play, this is a wonderful story of three unlikely characters who take over the task of watching over a family: three convicts who are working on the roof of the Ducotel family. The wife is mistrustful, fearing they will be murdered. The husband is a mild and meek man who lets all his customers walk all over him. Their beautiful daughter is missing the boyfriend she left behind in France.

The convicts climb down a ladder into the Ducote's home to find Marie Louise reading a letter she has just received. She faints dead away. Immediately they are drawn to her beauty and want to help. Then the mom enters and finds the convicts with her daughter. She thinks the worst. But they manage to convince her they are trying to help her. In gratitude she invites them to Christmas Eve dinner.

That's the set up for an extremely funny play. This was my third time seeing My Three Angels as a play. The Grossmont College version was just as funny as the other two renditions. The secret is the Angels who make the show. In this case Adam Weiner as Alfred the salesman – bookkeeper and mine and my sister's favorite in the first half, But in the second half Jake Rosko as Joseph came in a close second. And then there was Aaron Duggan as the smitten Angel Jules.

The Ducotel family, the wonderful Kate Hewitt as Emily, Ralph Johnson as Felix, and Janelle Urie as Marie Louise all gave commendable performances. Rounding out the cast was Jacob Hoff as Paul, the boyfriend and Frank Remiattle as his uncle Henri Touchard. Stephanie Johnson as Mme Parole and Shane Monaghan as the Lieutenant.

The cast received a standing ovation to a full house. You can't ask for more.

Stop by this season to catch one of the upcoming quality shows.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.