By Gizem Yetim
COLUMNIST
Lying, cheating and scandal are what you can expect from the wonderfully stunning show, “How the Other Half Loves,” put on by Hofstra’s drama department.
The play is about three couples who find their lives intertwined due to a workplace affair. Bob Phillips, played by Charles-Michael Reid, is having an affair with his boss’s wife Fiona Foster, played by Kristin Papadopoulos. Each return home suspiciously late one night, which causes speculation within their respective households.
While questioning his wife about her late night affairs, Frank Foster, played by Tyler Begnoche, is made to believe that she was simply comforting Mary Detweiler, who is played by Caity McNeill. Once his wife, Teresa Phillips, played by Natasha Cole, questions Bob he lies stating he was comforting William Detweiler played by Justin Chevalier.
The play offered a lot of comedic relief throughout the performances. A major aspect in the comedic relief of the play is the set design. One set is used as the living room of two of the families – they share a common dining room as well as a living space. In one scene, the dining room has two dinners going on, held on different nights with the same guests.
The production and set design was remarkably successful thanks to set designer, Nic Christopher, and production manager/technical director, James P. Hart, Jr. along with everyone else who worked on the set with them. The props made the show much more realistic and pulled the audience in, making it feel as if we were in the living room of each of the couples’ homes. The costumes were also very successful in portraying the personality and wealth of the characters as well as the time period of the play.
There were many fight scenes that were choreographed perfectly and added enormous comic relief, thanks to fight director Jason Tate.
“How the Other Half Loves” is playing until March 29. Upcoming shows are on Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m., in Hofstra University’s Black Box Theater. Students and faculty receive two free tickets with their Hofstra ID card.
I highly recommend everyone see this for a wonderful comedic experience that you will never forget. Believe me – you won’t be able to stop laughing even after the show ends.