Review: ‘Unnecessary Farce’ fills PowPAC with laughter

A hilarious and well-acted play about a sting operation on a potentially swindling mayor that is racier than PowPAC’s typical fare can be seen in Poway through Aug. 23.

“Unnecessary Farce” is about two cops and the town’s new accountant trying to get the mayor on tape talking about the town’s questionable financial reports. What’s worrisome to accountant Karen Brown (Brandon Kaye Thomas) is that Mayor Meekly (Martin White) says he will answer her questions about the financial discrepancies if they meet in a motel room instead of city hall.

Unbeknownst to the mayor is that police officers Eric Sheridan (David Ryan Gutierrez) and Billie Dwyer (Lizette Kent Allen) have hidden a camera in the room and are watching what unfolds on a television in the adjoining motel room.

In case she needs help, Karen plans to talk about how “hot” it is in the room — the code word for Eric and Billie to come barging in and save her if the mayor starts making sexual advances. Of course, with this being a farce, the situation gets out of hand rather quickly, but not in the way one would expect.

First, Karen and Eric have a budding romance that quickly heats up before the mayor’s arrival and their brief passionate encounter is accidentally recorded by the well-intentioned but bumbling Billie. Then the mayor’s security guard, Agent Frank (Frank Godinez), unexpectedly arrives. He shoos the mayor out of the room, then proceeds to intimidate Karen by telling her about a Scottish assassin named Todd (Nathan Boyer) who is likely to kill her if she persists in questioning the mayor about the town’s finances. Of course, death only comes after Todd dons a kilt and plays a tune on his bagpipes.

Scared by Agent Frank’s threats, Karen tries desperately to get the police officers’ help. When they fail to enter the room upon hearing the code word — they get distracted and miss it — she tries to emphasize her peril by disrobing, which leads to a complicated and hilarious misunderstanding that has numerous individuals in sexually compromising situations throughout the two-act play with a surprising twist at the end.

The seven-member cast, which also includes Peggy Schneider as the mayor’s wife, handles the outlandish situations and dialogue like pros, never breaking into giggles even though the audience is likely to laugh periodically. Thanks to Godinez’s design of a realistic and functional set that includes eight doors for everyone to utilize, the actors quickly move in and out of the scenes, and activities in both motel rooms can be seen simultaneously.

The entire cast does a good job, but special kudos are due Thomas, who keeps a straight face and does not break character despite the circumstances she finds herself in; plus Gutierrez for his acting abilities and Boyer for his mastery of a thick Scottish accent.

Due to the numerous sexual innuendos (both acted and verbally implied) and sexual situations, the play is likely best for mature teens and adults. The latter include Thomas repeatedly stripping down to her bra and undies (she remains modestly covered by wearing dark hosiery) plus Gutierrez and Godinez running around in boxer shorts and shirts. There are also scenes with two and three of them ending up in bed together — though the latter is actually an innocent, comical misunderstanding.

“Unnecessary Farce” can be seen at PowPAC, Poway’s Community Theatre, at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, plus 2 p.m. on Sundays through Aug. 23. Tickets are $22 for general admission and $20 for seniors, students and active duty military. Purchase at www.powpac.org or contact the box office at 858-679-8085 or boxoffice@powpac.org.

The theater, which has brand new seating, is at 13250 Poway Road in the Lively Center. The second-floor venue is accessible by stairs in the front and an elevator in back. Parking is free.