"The Front Page," show #942

Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s The Front Page puts audiences in the room where the reporting happens. Essentially a living room comedy set in a reporters office, the beats and banter are what drive the completely enjoyable production currently running at Good Company Players’ 2nd Space Theater. Director Denise Graziani helms the play with an ensemble of actors that deliver the 1930s Chicago style in balance with this high-comedy script among the blackmail, scandal, and drive for breaking the news at all costs.

(Henry Montelongo (Walter) and Billy Anderson (Hildy); Photo source: Good Company Players)

Led by an infallible Billy Anderson (Hildebrand “Hildy” Johnson) and Henry Montelongo (Walter Burns), this company is in sturdy hands in this two-act-structured-like-a-three-act play. The overly contextual opening scene is given a clipped pace with superb rivalrous chemistry and chatter, led by Alex Vaux as Endicott. The poker game, while seemingly pedantic in establishing the environment, drops a good amount of subtext and foreshadowing for the play’s plot and characters we’re about to meet. Graziani’s staging, complemented by clipped pacing of dialogue make for a clear shot to the meat of the plot: Hildy wanting to quit the reporting gig to get married when an escaped convict comes into his grips. 

(Erin Brown (Peggy) and Billy Anderson (Hildy); Photo source: Good Company Players)

Erin Brown gives a great performance as the passionately devoted Peggy, fiance to Hildy, and makes a dynamic turn when confronting Montelongo’s gruff, all-business Walter in the later scenes. Gordon Moore and Christopher Baeza give great antagonistic performances as The Mayor and Sheriff Hartman, respectively. Jonathan Aguirre chews the scenery well as a stalwart Diamond Louie, and Bryan Beckstrand gives a memorable performance as the convict-in-question, Earl Williams. Guinevere Thelin delivers a dominating supporting performance as reporter McCue, complete with physical comedy to support the one-liner, fast-paced delivery.

(L to R: Henry Montelongo (Walter), Jonathan Aguirre (Diamond Louie), and Billy Anderson (Hildy); Photo source: Good Company Players)

Technically, the set design by David Pierce and costume design by Ginger Kay Lewis-Reed are dynamite in supporting the period while giving space and personality for each character to develop, affect, and shine. The props design by Elizabeth Fiester, Camille Gaston, and Madeline Wristen add a nice touch amongst Pierce’s unit set, adding nostalgia and functional ambience to the production. 

With the writers’ experience as reporters being clear influence and inspiration for this play, it never veers into too inside-baseball for the general public to get the atmosphere. Graziani’s approach allows for the dated remarks and quips to be acceptingly eye-rolled at while never taking away from the very relevant competitive and selfishness this plays exposes: at their core, most people will do whatever it takes to get what they want or to get ahead, whether it be a spouse, a story, or a reputation for being better than your co-worker. The Front Page runs through June 21st, so get your tickets now to book an evening of this classic play done with a fresh energy.