Oak Park’s Circle Theatre puts on a fine ‘Ritz’ revival

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Elizabeth Morgan and Dennis Schnell (on bed) and Shawn Quinlan (under bed, left), and Alexander Sharon in “The Ritz.” | Photo by Bob Knuth

Updated: February 21, 2012 5:48PM

Times have changed since the 1975 debut of Terrence McNally’s madcap farce, “The Ritz,” sapping its original punch. It’s a story involving the adventures of a straight businessman and his attempts to elude mob-connected pursuers by hiding in a Manhattan bathhouse that’s primarily a playground for gay men.

But at Circle Theatre, thanks to Bob Knuth’s focused direction and excellent 20-member cast, “The Ritz” finds itself on firm footing.

When AIDS struck during the early 1980s, uninhibited gay sex was no longer a laughing matter, and remains so.

However, in Circle’s production of “The Ritz,” farcical elements like over-the-top characters, outlandish costumes, goofy encounters and frenetic chase scenes have become even stronger.

Knuth also has pulled out all the stops with a multi-room, two-story set that gives scurrying performers more than enough space to maneuver and doors aplenty to slam. Spartan, cubicle-size rooms bear black-and-white posters of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Liz Taylor and others, in tribute to gay-life icons of the era.

Dennis Schnell is smartly cast as Guy Proclo, a beefy, high-strung Cleveland sanitation company operator who has come to town for the funeral of the mob-connected father of his wife — only to discover that there’s a contract on his head.

Flimsily disguised in a dark wig and pasted-on mustache, Guy nervously takes refuge in a spot, a gay bathhouse, where he believes he’s least likely to attract attention. Big mistake.

As a new arrival at the bathhouse, he’s soon dogged by a “chubby chaser,” invited to a Crisco oil party and mistaken for a Broadway producer by Googie Gomez (delightful Elizabeth Morgan), a third-rate Puerto Rican singer at the bathhouse who has higher career aspirations.

What’s more, Michael Brick (Alexander Sharon), a virile young undercover detective with an odd, squeaky voice, is on the premises stalking Guy. In addition, Guy’s homicidal brother-in-law Carmine (David Krajecki) shows up incognito, ready to move in for the kill.

McNally’s script features many colorful, if stereotypical characters, including Shawn Quinlan as Chris, a high-spirited, outgoing queen; John Cardone as a former military man with a lustful eye out for overweight male partners; Jordan Phelps and Nicholas Reinhart as lovers Tiger and Duff, who work on staff at the bathhouse and appear in a tacky song-and-dance number; and chaps-wearing Jake Autizen.

Late in the show, Nancy Greco as Vivien, Guy’s confused but loyal wife, shows up to steal scenes, misunderstanding his motives for being in the bathhouse, and adding yet another layer of fun to the wild shenanigans.