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[from this article published My 8, 1995 in the Castro Valley Forum]
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| Two convicts (Bill C. Jones and C. Conrad Cady) conspire in My Three Angels. |
The Ducotel family—Felix, Emilie and daughter Marie Louise—really could use some help from above, but they never expect “angels” to descend from the roof of their living quarters. Yet this is what happens in My Three Angels.
Castro Valley's Chanticleers Theatre turns the clock back to Christmas Eve, 1910, in the penal colony of Cayenne, French Guinea. The temperature stands at 105 degrees and a trio of convicts pounds away on roof repairs.
Emile (Pam Vierk) is understandably alarmed when husband Felix tells her that the workmen overhead are convicted murderers. She feels she has quite enough problems as it is.
“My two children,” she says ruefully. “One I gave birth to, the other I married.”
Husband Felix (Jay Clifton) is a proper Frenchman who insists on a frock coat and starched wing collar despite the heat. Felix is honest and sincere, but an inept store manager. The locals either steal his stock or, like Mme. Parole (Bev Youngert), ignore paying their bills. In fact, he's sure to lose his job managing the store as soon as owner Henri Trochard and his nephew Paul arrive.
A further complication arises when pretty Marie Louise (Jennifer Pawlitschek) learns that Paul, whom she loves, is engaged to marry another woman. She faints, and it's time for our three convicts to climb down into the Ducotel living room.
Actually only Jules (C. Conrad Cady) and Alfred (Scott Marshall) are murderers, it turns out. The third man, Joseph (Bill C. Jones), is merely an embezzler, forger and all-around confidence man. But it's his devious mind and dubious skills that are needed to solve Ducotel's problems.
When wealthy Uncle Henri and Paul arrive, the situation develops as Felix feared. Henri (played by Ralph Miller) wants to examine the books right away. Tomorrow morning—Christmas Day—they can start taking inventory. (Uncle Henri could give pointers to Scrooge.)
The situation between Paul (Richard Love) and Marie Louise needs improving, so the convicts arrange a garden rendezvous for two. Surely Marie Louise's charm and beauty will change Paul's mind. As for Henri, well, they have plans.
It's quite a trick to remove Uncle Henri permanently from the scene without implicating the convicts. After all, the convicts don't want to get caught and punished further. Fortunately, the three angels who have taken the Ducotels under their wings can turn to a little outside help which won't lead to them.
With Uncle Henri out of the picture, Joseph the forger “finds” a codicil to the old man's will which urges the heir Paul to give Felix back the store which Henri had tricked him out of originally. Will Paul buy the idea?
But it really doesn't matter because if matters don't go well for the Ducotels, their three angels are perfectly capable of changing things around. It may not be divine intervention, but it works.
Ralph Miller delivers a sterling performance as the tightwad Uncle Henri, nearly matched by Bill Jones as Joseph the convict. In fact, the cast is generally able, and the set and costuming by Ellie Ohara convincing. Making his debut as director for Chanticleers, Ron Anderson has turned out a nice little comedy for the entire family's enjoyment (anything remotely unpleasant happens offstage).
My Three Angels by Sam and Bella Spewack is one of several popular comedies turned out by the husband wife team. It plays at Chanticleers Theatre, 3683 Quail Ave, Castro Valley, through May 27. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees May 14 and 21. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for students and Seniors 55 and older. Call 733-5483 for reservations and group rates.
