Review: Three’s a Crowd in ‘The Bachelors’
By Geri Parlin, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Feb. 29–The Milwaukee Rep production of “The Bachelors” is a funny, frothy look at love and love lost. It’s a swift kick to the heart, followed by a jab to the funnybone.
Thursday night’s NexStar crowd at Viterbo University was treated to a light romp through the ages as our trio of actors — Katherine Strohmaier (Kate), Doug Mancheski (John) and Steven M. Koehler (Stew) — begin their love triangle in Victorian England. Kate is promised to Stew, who does not want to marry her but feels he must for her money. But she’s in love with John, Stew’s best friend. When Stew talks John off the ledge of love, Kate drowns herself, but promises to return to ruin their lives.
Hey nonny nonny. Suddenly it’s modern-day Madison and we meet our two bachelors again, this time a disgustingly disheveled pair contemplating tuna fish turned bad and their lack of love lives.
In waltzes Kate. She’s delivering pizza to the two lads, but she’s taking John’s heart with her when she leaves.
It’s all part of the plot to bust up the two best friends and it works, as Stew rails against the unkind fates that delivered pizza via a temptress.
The music, courtesy of pianist James Kaplan, is a frothy mixture of doo-wop, bubblegum and nonsense lyrics provided by Fred Alley. It gives the trio a chance to dance around the apartment as Kate and Stew battle for John’s affections.
Mancheski is a hilarious physical comedian, contort-ing his body to express what his lips dare not say. (And his lips dare say some pretty odd things!) Koehler is convincing as the slacker best friend who sees Kate as the embodiment of all that is evil as she lures John from the comfort of lounging in boxer shorts and eating from cans that have no labels.
And Strohmaier plays the woman scorned with just the right amount of insouciant charm. Heck,
these guys deserve to be emotionally tortured. Right, ladies?
Geri Parlin can be reached at gparlin@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8225.
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