Francis Beaumont’s amusing mashup play is an English-language parody that played from May 25 until June 10 at Foothill Theatre.
The play, directed by Tom Gough, satirizes 17th Century London society, and is full of naughty innuendos and tongue-in-cheek dialogue. At the same time, it’s a pleasure to hear the language of the play articulated so well by a well-versed cast.
The fourth wall is immediately broken as a grocer and his wife, along with the grocer’s entourage, interrupt a troupe of players in their production of “The London Merchant.” The couple insists on having the grocer’s dim-witted apprentice Rafe star as a lead character.
Naturally, the theatrical company is forced to work around Rafe’s intrusion. Rafe gladly becomes his own character, and thus we are introduced to “The Knight of the Burning Pestle,” and his trusty sidekicks, a dwarf and a squire.
The cast starts off with Jim Johnson as George the Grocer; Lori Grass as the Grocer’s Wife; and Joshua Messick as Rafe.
The production team includes director Tom Gough, scenic design by Carlos Aceves and Thomas Weaver, costume design by Julie Engelbrecht, lighting design by Streven Mandoli, technical direction by Bruce McLeod, and Julia Rotakhina as stage manager.
With its sharp and clever staging and a solid company of fine comic actors, “The Knight of the Burning Pestle” provides farcical entertainment.
