Review: ‘The Miser’ full of humor, energy

NICHOLAS W. McCLELLAN/for the Van Wert independent

The luxurious Niswonger Performing Arts Center surrounds me to the left, right, rear and front. It’s the front I’m focused on, the stage, where this weekend students of Van Wert High School will publicly perform The Miser by the famous French dramatist, Moliere.

A violin concerto sings softly in my ear, setting the neoclassical mood for this 17th century farce and satirization of French society. As I wait for the stage lights to come up and the show to commence, I appreciate the simplicity and depth of the stage design. Sturdy stone walls and windows stretching from floor to ceiling adorn the expertly painted backdrop. Above the blue, up-lit windows, a dome hovers over the stage like a halo, suggesting someone “upstairs” is also watching and that the action on stage is “blessed” in some way.

I transition from thoughts of happy endings to tumultuous beginnings as the music fades and the stage is lit. Technical director Hugh Saunier has obviously rallied the stage crew with glorious results.   At the very center of the action sits a wooden chest. An old man, finely dressed, inches toward the chest while pointedly surveying the room for eavesdroppers and onlookers. Kneeling down in front of it, he peeks inside the chest to inspect its contents and quickly ensnares it in his hands before exiting into the garden.

The old man is named Harpagon, the show’s miser (Sage Burden), a widower and supreme money hoarder who has fathered two lovely children, Elise (Maggie Cripe) and Cleante (Tyler Nygren). Although he is over 70 years old, he is attempting to arrange a marriage between himself and an attractive young woman named Mariane (Brittney Boaz). Mariane, coincidentally, is the love interest of Cleante, Harpagon’s son.

Elise is in love and wishes to marry Valere (Levi McCarter) who has recently taken on the position of Harpagon’s steward to be closer to Elise. Harpagon has other wishes for his daughter and is arranging her marriage to the extremely wealthy Anselm (James Defore). Meanwhile, everyone is trying to get their hands on a piece of the 10,000 in gold Harpagon has buried in the garden.

And so sets the stage for a night of considerable laughs and welcome surprises in a comedy that provides both slapstick and clever wordplay, with a sprinkling of contemporary appeal by seasoned director Chad Kraner, assisted by Melissa Bloomfield. Kraner’s masterful directorship is apparent while watching the cast move and act on stage, effectively bringing the action to life.

Burden seamlessly sheds his youth while stepping into the gray-haired and wrinkled visage of the central character, Harpagon. His commitment to the role and willingness to take direction is inspiring, while managing to portray a character who is both abhorrent and sympathetic.

Other exceptional performances abound in this high school production. Veteran performer Jesse Daniels stands out from his peers in his characterization of Lafleche, Cleante’s servant. His portrayal is both comedic and sinister as he attempts to unearth the hiding place of Harpagon’s money. His line, “a plague on all misers!” is still ringing in my ears.

Nygren floats effortlessly across the stage as Cleante, the emotionally driven, 20-something with heart silhouettes where his pupils should be. He imbues his performance with foolhardy warmth and charm. Cripe as Elise, sister to Cleante, manages her character with poise and dignity, a role which she took over very late into the rehearsal schedule.

Lexi Ayers as Frosine, the matchmaker, uses both soft and firm feminine charm to manipulate the action on stage. She becomes one with a large, red, pleated fan. It becomes an extension of her character, not just simply a stage prop.

From bottom to top, cast members execute their performances with care and comfort while staying in character. Noah Miller, Kendall Humrickhouse, Alea Hill, Nick Krugh, Leandryce Miller, Harley Danylchuk, and Valerie Barnhart support the cast commendably. As an audience member, my suspension of disbelief was made all the easier by the nuanced characterizations of these skilled thespians. The technical crew, including Alexis Billingham, Hannah Wireman, Shianne Baldwin, Meredith Arn, Samantha Brooks, Hayley Walker, Alli Smith, Rebecca Welker, and Morgan Lahmon, executed to perfection. The VWHS production of Moliere’s The Miser is a treasure unto itself, one in which I am glad to have had the opportunity of sharing my experience in writing this review.

I encourage the reader to utilize a portion of their entertainment dollar and give support to this superior Van Wert High School production at the NPAC. Performance dates are Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the NPAC box office or at the door.