BARNSTABLE ― Reviews of the comedic play “Into the Breeches!” say it is “endearing,” “charming,” “(has) laugh-out-loud moments,” “moving” and “thought-provoking.” This modest, understated comedy is all that ― and more. The title refers to King Henry V’s famous cry, “Once more, into the breach,” from Shakespeare’s famed drama, but the meaning gets changed a bit here, adding a layer to this gently delivered entertainment – here it also refers to breeches, or pants – a key factor as the plot unfolds in this snappy, clever show. What it’s about: It’s 1942, and the men are away at war. In one American town, the women on the home front decide to keep the community theater open by performing Shakespeare’s “Henry IV” and “Henry V,” using the unheard-of dramatic solution of women playing the men’s roles. Not only do they decide to wear the breeches, they also end up taking on other issues of note, such as the persistent racial and gender prejudices of the day, ones that also simmer in their midst. As the women practice the fine art of looking and acting more like men, they hit on another way to connect with their audience; they switch from doublet and hose to World War II khaki costuming, merging Shakespeare’s timeless words with the terrors and consequences of their current day.
“Into the Breeches” is written by George Brant, directed by Stephen Lajoie, presented by the Barnstable Comedy Club. Highlights: Eight talented actors take to the Comedy Club stage to show us how their world is radically changing in the midst of the fear and uncertainty of wartime. Sandy Basile, Amy E. Cole, Janet Geist Moore, Frank Hughes Jr., Liz Liuzzi, Marcus Liuzzi, Amie-Leigh McFarlane and Emma Miles are outstanding in a don’t-miss entertainment that proves that their little “band of brothers,” in community together, can do the risky thing, thereby affirming their sturdiest selves – especially when times are tough.
How to get tickets: 2:30 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Jan. 26, Barnstable Comedy Club, 3171 Main St., Barnstable, 508-362-6333, barnstablecomedyclub.org/.
