Theatre Review: 'THE FRONT PAGE Takes Off Like A Rocket In Culver City Public Theatre Production'
by Therese Dersch
August 10, 2024
Note: "The Front Page" was presented by The Culver City Public Theatre July 13th through August 4th of 2024 at Carlson Memorial Park in Culver City, California. The Production recently closed. This is a post-production notice by an audience member.
"The Front Page," the play the film "His Girl Friday" is based on, was first produced in 1928. Written by two Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, one wonders what craziness was going on in the newsrooms of the time that inspired it.
The Culver City Public Theatre production is charming, silly in the best Monty Pythonish way, and laugh out loud funny.
The story centers around reporters working the police beat in Chicago. One of them, Hildy, plans to leave the newspaper business for what she feels is a more respectable life as a wife to an insurance salesman. Life, as often happens, has other plans for her.
The play starts off a little slowly to acclimate the audience to the time and feeling of the newsroom, then takes off like a rocket. It's worth seeing alone for a wonderful bit of physical comedy involving a roll-top desk.
The cast is all quite good, with Tanya Laine's Hildy as a particular standout. Her Hepburnese take no prisoners interpretation of Hildy is completely believable.
Supporting cast members are equally strong, and Lynda Palmer as Hildy's long suffering future mother in law, and Tamara Koltes as a prisoner's chair-wielding girlfriend were particular favorites.
The play is at Dr. Paul Carlson Memorial Park and is free. Highly recommended as a fun romp through an old-timey newsroom.
Therese Dersch is an experienced educator and longtime performing arts supporter.
2024 Culver City Public Theatre Publicity and Production Photos of THE FRONT PAGE by Kelsey Danzeisen.
2024 Culver City Public Theatre Cast of Characters Illustration of THE FRONT PAGE by Rizzy Fuentes.
Here is a link to a brief videotaped scene of Darryl Maximilian Robinson as Roy V. Bensinger, Rizzy Fuentes as Walter Burns and Tanya Laine as Hildy Johnson in the 2024 Culver City Public Theatre production of THE FRONT PAGE.:
https://youtu.be/b7GbFTBBqvs?si=yRwcPg7EL59_OGwa
Theatre Lovers and Supporters, Here Is A Thank You To Darryl Maximilian Robinson From Culver City Public Theatre President and Play Director Trace Oakley In Appreciation of Mr. Robinson's performance as Roy V. Bensinger in "The Front Page."
