08/15/2026
Thank you David Kelton (actor, patron, friend of RTC).
Tonight, I was seated in a packed theater with an enormously appreciative audience to see Phillip King’s 1944 classic farce, SEE HOW THEY RUN, performed locally at the Richardson Theatre Centre. The play is ably directed by Lorna Woodford and stage managed by the lovely and talented Elizabeth Niksich. There are nine characters in this show (some British, some American and one Russian) who have to work their way through door openings and closings and mistaken identities. Seemingly (to them) the inexplicable conduct of the (straight-sober-innocent) characters who act as perfect foils to the (frenetic-hysteric) characters drive the silliness that is basic to a successful farce.
The fun part of any good farce is that we, the audience, are let in on the running joke that seemingly confounds the characters. This production is no different. The audience is introduced to the sane, generally sensible characters who, as time passes, succumb to the developing deception(s). Ida (Nika Weiss), Miss Skillon (Amy Knoles), Reverend Toop (Stephen Kupovics) and Penelope Toop (Natasha Braun-Bueno) seem to be generally well adjusted … perhaps apart from Miss Skillon, who is the busybody we love to dislike. Enter Corporal Clive Winton (Johathan Luce), a former acting friend (lover?) of Ms. Toop and the basis for deception and mistaken identities begins.
Confusion ramps up with the introduction of The Intruder (Dennis Ryazanov), The Bishop of Lax (Budd Mahan) and Reverend Arthur Humphrey (Blair Mitchell). Add to that mix too much booze, stolen clergy clothing, scanty clothing, lost uniforms and a closet stuffed with many of our characters. The confusion runs rampant. Trying to get to the bottom of the elaborate mess was the self-important but relatively ineffective Sergeant Towers (Anthony Magee). At one point in time there are too many clergymen to shake a stick at (OK … at whom to shake a stick). The resulting mix is a frenetic cacophonous concoction.
Ms. Woodford’s cast is terrific. Each had his/her strengths. I observed no weakness in this cast. This is a fast paced, line intensive show that requires great timing and physical comedy. The pace of the show was (as I stated but will say again) frenetic. All the actors seemed to excel in their comedic moments. The pacing and the dialogue indicated that the actors had a mastery of the script (if a line was dropped or paraphrased, it wasn't at all obvious). As an audience member I was exhausted just watching these talented folks going through their paces. It’s probably unfair to single out individual cast members but (remember this is an unsolicited review). I found Ida’s man-seeking persona and Miss Skillon’s overall unforgiving, dare I say “holier than thou” nature created some of the better moments of the show.
You will be happy to know that everything works out in the end … kinda. If you are a fan of farce, this will be your cup of tea.
SEE HOW THEY RUN continues through August 30, 2026. Dates, times, ticket availability....
https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/venue.php?org_id=587
