Chattanooga Times Free Press

Sunday, April 2, 2006

REVIEW 

Circle comedy offers sharp quips

By NIKKI C. HASDEN 

The Night Reginald Filbert Called It Quits! a new comedy by Rex Knowles provided sharp quips, lopsided logic, and hearty laughs galore as it opened the 2006 Festival of New Plays on Friday evening in the Circle of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

 Although the selections in the fourth annual play competition were made anonymously, it was a playwright in the CTC's own back yard who penned this year’s grand prize winner, earning $l,000 and the opportunity to see his work turned into a full-scale production.

 Mr. Knowles, executive director of the professional actor training program and repertory theater at Chattanooga State Technical Community College since 2003, has combined a keen ear for dialogue and a knack for creating distinctive characters with his love of literature and some astute philosophizing in this genuinely funny yet intriguing offering.

 Tautly directed by CTC Producing Director Jeffrey Brown, Mr. Knowles' play features engaging Josh Ruben as eccentric Reginald Filbert, a self-proclaimed nut who talks to his pet fish, eats peanut butter and potato chip sandwiches and has written 1,964 suicide notes. When a call girl with more than half a brain, played with moxie by Courtney Mansfield (a recent graduate of Mr. Knowles' Chattanooga State program), enters his abode, the possibilities for change become a mystery the audience cannot wait to see revealed.

 Add to the mix childlike Stephanie, Reginald's fiancee who lives in a convent, neurotically played by Michelle Whitten, and crude tough guy Sonny Rosenthal, who steals the show with many of Mr. Knowles' hilarious one-liners, and anything can happen.

 From a spot of farce at the end of Act I, the play actually develops into a thoughtful discussion of some heavy theological and philosophical issues in Act II. Every time Mr. Knowles tosses out some weighty concept, made more incongruous by the weird foursome, a bizarre or downright crass comment will burst the bubble, bringing back the comedy and keeping the gallery of rogues from taking themselves too seriously. The development and resolution are quite ingenious, and the opening night audience was constantly kept in stitches.

The Night Reginald Filbert Called It Quits! features set design by Richmond Terry and lighting design by David Wood. It will be performed Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 in the CTC's Circle Theatre through April 15. For reservations and a schedule of the performance times for the staged readings of other finalists in the 2006 Festival of New Plays, call 267-8534.