Rumors of Jean-Francois Millet’s demise are greatly exaggerated in Mark Twain’s comedy Is He Dead? However, the rumors massively increase the value of the artist’s limited number of original paintings and force a run on prices for the now-discovered “late” art master. Combine that with Limburger cheese, a cross-dressing star, and grand con jobs and one has a fantastic evening at the Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA).
Director Joey Pierce challenges an experienced cast with bringing to life a farce that lay dormant in a library for more than a century. Their tools are slapstick comedy, quick wit and lust/love (Paris in 1846). Pierce keeps the audience engaged with fast-paced exits and entrances by characters who hide, escape, and jump out at uncertain moments.
A great real-life painter, Jean-Francois Millet, is the hero of this comedy. That much is true. Academic Shelly Fisher Fishkin discovered Twain’s 1898 manuscript in 2003 at UC Berkeley. She then worked on a manuscript she shared with playwright David Ives. Their work, Is He Dead?, was a Broadway hit by 2007.
Lanny Warkentien plays Millet and the Widow Tillou. Warkentien is good as a depressed, poor artist, but shines once he puts on fancy dress. Mdme. Tillou becomes possessed by a grieving sister’s strangeness. His performance dominates the play at this point, particularly when he speaks in a hilarious plaintive neigh.
The good news is that Warkentien is so funny anybody who shows up at LTA to laugh will be satisfied with Is He Dead? The better news is he leaves room for the rest of the troupe to showcase their talent.
Once a buyer (Justin Beland) visits the flat Millet works from, he is willing to pay a fortune — 25,000 francs — for Millet’s latest painting. That is until the would-be-buyer discovers the painter is still alive. Even the art buyer realizes the only way artists achieve fame and fortune is to die. That starts Millet’s boyz to thinking.
Chicago (Brendan Chaney), Dutchy (Hanlon Smith-Doresy), and Phelim O’Shaughnessy (Zachary Litwiller) are struggling artists, also in debt to the villain. They hatch the scheme to “kill” Millet and bring his grieving sister to manage his soon-to-be increasing estate’s value. Somehow more and more paintings keep pumping out of the Millet factory.
Bastien Andre (Kirk Lambert) is a wonderful villain. He is willing to destroy the lives of the painters and the Leroux family. Both Millet and Bastein want to marry Marie Leroux (Sarah Keisler), leading Bastien to threaten debtors’ prison for Millet and her father (Leo Mairena) for sweet little Marie’s life or 15,000 francs back rent.
To say more would give the plot away, and that is not my intention. LTA has an army of volunteers working behind the scenes and they all make this production work. Sue Pinkman’s hair and makeup design fit my version of 1846 Paris peasantry and paradise. As did Robin Worthington’s wardrobe.
One of Ives’ adaptations is to cut an act, making the play two acts. Set designer Matt Liptak recreated the stage during an intermission to reimagine Act One’s dark, crowded, stuffy atmosphere into a wide open, brighter space for Act Two. Adam Konowe’s lightning design probably doesn’t get noticed unless something goes wrong, but I appreciated the subtle changes between acts. It added to the show. Of course, Widow Tillou’s bright yellow wig added its own touch of light.
Act Two is established three months after Millet’s disappearance. Some now suspect Mdme. Tillou of knocking off her brother for his money. Tillou and Millet’s associates are now wealthy, and others, including wannabe suitors for Tillou and Chicago (Alayna Theusissen), and leaders of Europe want to see a body and put the now world-famous Jean-Francois Millet to rest.
Twain’s work is far from dead. The laughs come fast at LTA.
Running Time: Two hours with one 15-minute intermission.
Is He Dead? plays through June 8, 2024, at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA. To purchase tickets ($21–$24), go online or contact the Box Office via phone (703-683-0496) or email ([email protected]).
The program for Is He Dead? is online here.
COVID Safety: Face masks are optional but encouraged.
LTA is partnering with the Art League for artists to participate in an exhibit inspired by Mark Twain’s witty sendup of the art world, Is He Dead? Artists will be invited to submit their work for an exclusive collaborative exhibit to be held at LTA during the run of the play.
Is He Dead?
A comedy by Mark Twain
Adapted by David Ives
Produced by Eleanore Tapscott
Directed by Joey Pierce
