"AN ABSOLUTE TURKEY" A DELICOUS DISH

BRYCE WOOD AS PONTAGNAC, CARLY POLISTINA  AS CLARA AND NATALIA CUEVAS AS LUCIENNE

Fidelity is an essential condition to a happy marriage and the foundation upon which wedded bliss is based.  What happens, however, when wives suspect their husbands are wandering and philandering?  They may go to great lengths to prove  innocence or guilt and then if their suspicions are confirmed, wives may retaliate with a dish best served cold:  revenge.  To get into the proper spirit of the debate, walk briskly over to the Jorgenson Auditorium on the campus of the University of Connecticut at Storrs for the truly delightful romp among spouses at marital war when the Connecticut Repertory Theatre presents a farce "An Absolute Turkey" by Georges Feydeau, with adaptation by Nicki Frei and Peter Hall.  Hurry because the fun and frivolity only lasts until Saturday, December 10.

A faithful and sophisticated wife, Lucienne (Natalia Cuevas), suspects her husband Vatelin (Jeff DeSisto) is dallying with another woman. She is not alone in her fears.  Other wives like Madame Pontagnac and Madame Pinchard (both Jenn Sapozhnikov) and Armandine (Meredith Saran) and Mitzi (Arlene Bozich) are questioning their own relationships in the bedroom.  Lucienne has the added incentive since she herself is being pursued by two potential lovers, both purported friends of her husband, Pontagnac (Bryce Wood) and Redillon (Brooks Brantly).  If she can prove her husband has been a cad, she will then feel free in indulge in a little sport of her own.  She will even use Pontagnac and possibly the chief of police (Darren Lee Brown) to catch Vatelin in the act.  Curtis Longfellow's Soldignac is over the top in his portrayal of the Swiss hubby on a mission: to prove his wife Mitzi is unchaste. The white gloved hotel manager (Michael Bobenhausen) and the valet Gerome (John Leonard Thompson) are also worthy of note.

This talented cast enters into the frenzy and the frolic with enthusiasm, culminating in a great free-for-all fisticuffs fight at the end of act 2.  Scenic designer Abigail Copeland and costume designer Heather Lesieur add to the pleasure, while director Paul Mullins keeps the pace lively, with enough slamming doors to make any lover of farce delirious with joy.

For tickets ($7to $30), call the CT Rep at 860-486-2113 or online at www.crt.uconn.edu.  Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Less than pure intentions abound as respectability flies out the bedroom windows and many a rendezvous is secretly planned. Who will stay married and who will divorce?  Electric bells rather than church bells will ring, suitcases will be misplaced, hotel rooms will be double booked and poison will be swallowed as jealousy, deception  and potatoes vie for first place.