Are you ready for the unsexiest sexual farce ever produced? Globus Theatre continues its summer season with Michael G. Wilmot’s No Tell Motel at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcageyon. A good-natured sex comedy — despite having absolutely any sex — No Tell Motel is a true crowd pleaser where everybody seems to be in the wrong room and infidelity hasn’t ever been funnier.
Directed by and co-starring James Barrett and featuring Sarah Quick, Jeff Gruich and Mark Whelan, No Tell Motel was featured as part of the London Fringe Festival in 2014, but the Globus Theatre production is the first professional production of this screwball comedy.
Presented as a “theatre in the round,” the Globus stage is turned into a sleazy room at the Bird of Paradise Motel where next door neighbors Brandon (Jeff Gruich) and Sarah (Sarah Quick) have sneaked away in the middle of the day to act out the sexual fantasies they are too embarrassed to reveal to their respective spouses.
But from the moment they enter the room, things don’t go as planned. Mistakes happen, fantasies are played out (albeit it badly,) and decisions are made as the couple take a long look at their relationships, their desires, and themselves. Add to the mix a friendly but fed-up motel owner (Mark Whelan) and you have an awkward afternoon of hilarity.
Oh … and then Sarah’s husband (James Barrett) shows up on the scene making things go from bad to worse — and even funnier.
No Tell Motel is an interesting comedy in that it deals with subjects such as sexual fantasy, role playing, and infidelity but in the least dirty way possible. It’s a likeable comedy that remains accessible to the audience (which, at the performance I attended, was made up primarily of senior citizens). This may be because the show never gets kinky or seedy and doesn’t have any dark overtones. Instead, the true comedy comes from the awkwardness of the situation and the fact that, while the two protagonists have a desire to be kinky, they don’t really know how to be.
Jeff Gruich’s character Brandon could be the worst seducer in the history of sex. Instead of being Don Juan, he has the sexual prowess of Eddie Haskell in a Tijuana brothel. He says all the wrong things and is perhaps trying a bit too hard. However, despite his flaws, the audience doesn’t dislike him because he’s pretty much harmless. Gruich manages to bring a little bit of humanity to a character that, in the hands of another actor, could possibly be quite unlikeable.
Softening the impact of Gruich’s overzealous sexual urge is Sarah Quick’s performance as Sarah. Sexually bored by her husband, it’s clear Sarah is having second thoughts from the moment she arrives on the set. Torn between desire and the reality of the situation, Sarah seems to wobble between the excitement and the stupidity of the situation she’s in.
Although infidelity isn’t a funny subject, what makes No Tell Motel work is that you like the two main characters. The fact that they’re so bad at what they’re doing makes it funny. Gruich and Quick’s reenactments of sex fantasies are so oafish that you’re almost embarrassed for them. But in the end, you realize the two characters do have a heart, and that their bad decisions become a catalyst for realizing that it’s often best to just be happy with what you have.
Mark Whelan gives one of the strongest performances of the night as an embittered hotel manager who is tired of his facility being used for one-night stands, hook ups, and other deviant acts. Mainly appearing in the second act, Whelan gives a sweet performance filled with pathos and also brings out the sweetness in Sarah. The chemistry between Quick and Whelan is very tender and softens the show a great deal.
When things explode at the end climax of the show, it’s Whelan who has the funniest lines as an “outsider looking in.” Whelan is a great character actor who brings a lot of heart that’s needed to soften the second act.
As for James Barrett, let’s just say he’s very good at playing the sort of role that he plays — and he gives a mighty brutal head lock. Saying much more would give away too much.
No Tell Motel is an excellent comedy with mild moments of titillation, but overflowing with good-natured humour. It’s low on raunch but high on laughs, and features fantastic performances from a cast of professional actors.
Globus Theatre at the Lakeview Arts Barn is as good as theatre gets in the Kawarthas and No Tell Motel is light-hearted comedy that’s perfect for the summer season.
No Tell Motel runs until August 15th at the Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd., Bobcaygeon). Adult tickets are $29.50 for the show only, or $61.50 for dinner and theatre during evening performances.
All photos by Sam Tweedle for kawarthaNOW.
