by: Emma Fleming
Neil Simon’s Come Blow Your Horn, directed by Parkland student Melissa Goldman, left the crowd roaring with laughter. Simon’s play follows Buddy Baker, a young and confused man, who no longer wants to work for his father’s wax fruit business. Mr. Baker, Buddy’s father who is played by David Laker, is less than impressed with his son’s decision. Buddy seeks the mentorship of his brother Alan, who also has a strained relationship with Mr. Baker. Goldman and her cast and crew put time and effort into creating a dynamic and authentic relationship between the characters Buddy and Alan Baker. Buddy, played by Thom Billam, and Alan, played by David Katz, are consistently involved in a complex and revolving love web. With the Baker family’s hectic relationship to one another, Alan’s bachelor lifestyle and Buddy’s newfound appreciation for the bachelor life, the show is riddled with complex and conflicting relationships.
The 60s era based comedy was received well by Parkland audience members. From the actors’ commitment to character, to appropriately selected music and lighting, to convincing 60s set design, the show seemed to strike the audience in a positive manner.
Upon entering the theater, eyes were drawn to the student designed set. The baby-blue painted apartment, decorated with white and brown rectangles, was reminiscent of early 60s wall-paper. A nice addition to the set were the various retro posters of pin-up girls and tourist destinations like Las Vegas and Chicago. These posters helped validate that the apartment belonged to a young bachelor. The actors worked well with the set and appeared to be comfortable in the environment.
Not only was the audience impressed with the set, but also with the acting. As the cast settled into their environment, the audience became more responsive. Each character seemed to trigger a different emotional response from the audience. Alan, with his womanizer mentality, generated a surprised feeling within in the audience, especially when he confused one of his dates for another. On the other hand, the crowd appeared to empathize with an anxious Buddy. Buddy’s confused feelings about whether to leave home or not were easy for audience members to relate to.
One of the most pivotal points in the show was when Buddy and Alan’s father show up to the apartment unexpectedly. As Alan opened the apartment door, thinking he was receiving a visit from one of his dates, he was shocked by an unhappy Mr. Baker waiting in the doorway. I noticed the couple next to me leaning forward in their seats as they were wholeheartedly invested in the rising conflict. With just one look at Mr. Baker’s aggravated demeanor, the theater erupted with laughter. David Laker believably played the role of a disappointed father, so much so that the audience could not help but laugh. Laker’s commitment to his character sold the audience, which made Mr. Baker an entertaining character to watch.
Likewise, Connie Dayton, played by Celia Meuller, captured the audience’s attention. Although Connie was not the most comedic character in the play, Meuller’s confidence and ability to portray a strong female role left the audience speechless on more than one occasion. Meuller’s character felt honest and conversational, which struck the audience in a more serious manner.
Mrs. Baker, played by HeatherAnn Layman, also struck the audience. A worried stereotypical 60s house-wife, could have been a difficult character for anyone to adequately portray, but Layman communicated Mrs. Baker’s role in a comedic way and made Mrs. Baker an appealing motherly character.
The general feeling in theater was an expectant and excited one. People were welcomed by both the ticket cashiers and greeters standing at the theater door. But after I had found a seat, I found it a little unprofessional when another couple and I were asked to move to make room for potential “late-arrivers.” Luckily, the other couple and I found adequate seating, but the encounter distracted from the ambiance the theater students were trying to create.
Two of the most underrated parts of the production were the subtle lighting effects and the music selections. At one point during the show, I noticed a soft blue light hitting the apartment window pane. The blue light mimicked that of moonlight, and I found the attention to detail particularly appealing. Also, the music choices during intermission left the audience upbeat and ready for the second act. At one point, “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys was played, and the audience sang along and danced in their seats. The music not only helped keep the audience interested in the play, but also created a general sense of happiness.
Overall, Goldman and her team conveyed the chaotic story of Buddy and Alan Baker hilariously and believably. Seeing the various smiling faces in the crowd validated that the student production was a success. I recommend that both students and community members see this show, not only because the tickets are only $10 and the money raised will support the theater scholarship program, but because the show was comedic, and the audience could not help but be drawn to the passion, effort and time the students put into the show.
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For more information about performance times and dates or reserving tickets, please see the Parkland theater website which can be found at www.parkland.edu.
