A literary laugh fest at Arvada Center

‘The Book Club Play’ features a stellar cast in a rollicking comedy about group dynamics

Who knew that discussing books could be so much fun? I certainly didn’t, but that was before I saw The Book Club Play at Arvada Center. Written by Karen Zacarias, it is a non-stop, laugh-out-loud comedy filled with clever dialogue and well-crafted scenes. Throw in a highly accomplished cast and one could not ask for a more satisfying way to spend time in the theatre.

This particular book club takes place in the home of Robert Smith (Josh Robinson) and Ana Smith (Diana Dresser). It’s a small group with only five members and was founded eight years before Oprah formed her book club, boasts Ana. Rounding out the club are William (Matt Zambrano) Robert’s college roommate, Ana’s new co-worker Lily (Tresha Farris), and long-time best friend Jennifer (Emily Van Fleet). What sets this book club apart is that it is being filmed for a documentary by a world-famous filmmaker. At the precise hour, the cameras are turned on and nothing is left to the imagination, soon becoming a platform for ultimate truth-telling.

All seems relatively copacetic until Alex (Lavour Addison) arrives. He has been invited to sit in on the group by Jennifer after a chance meeting in the laundry room of their apartment building. Alex is a professor of comparative literature and, not surprisingly, has plenty to say about books. He is full of energy and enthusiasm and has many suggestions for the club. Although the other members are quick to embrace Alex as a full-fledged participant, Ana is a holdout. She will have none of it. Surprisingly, Ana has a little something up her sleeve that gives her the upper hand once again as the play winds down.

As Ana (Ah-na, as she is quick to remind us), Diana Dresser commands the stage with a highly tuned sense of comedic timing. Although she is without question the perfect hostess, bubbling beneath the surface is the control freak that she really is. Watch her follow Jennifer around with coasters in hand making sure her drinks are never without one.

As Robert, Josh Robinson, is the right mix of a slightly aging jock and a supportive husband. Not really inclined to participate in the book club, he puts on a good show for his wife and guests. Matt Zambrano is a complex mix of emotions as William. Throughout the course of the play, his true feelings are revealed, and Zambrano plays them all to the hilt.

Both Tresha Farris and Emily Van Fleet as Lily and Jennifer are masters of the side glance. Their reactions to the other characters are priceless. They both have extremely well-rounded characters giving the audience a true sense of who they are. As Alex, Lavour Addison is a force to be reckoned with. His energy is boundless as he sweeps onto the stage as the perfect foil for the somewhat staid book club. He is open to joining the club almost immediately and gives 100 percent to the possibility of changing things up a bit. Addison is both extremely appealing and persuasive, with a performance that shines from start to finish.

There is another actor to mention who is not directly involved with the storyline. Frank Oden is delightful as the Pundits who share their stories of various book clubs in between the action. He plays multiple characters, both male and female, and never misses a beat (or a laugh).

*Note: In the show I saw, Oden was filling in for Kate Gleason, who usually plays the Pundits.

Lynne Collins, the artistic director of the Arvada Center, is doing double duty by directing The Book Club Play with a production that’s in top form from start to finish. Her style is to bring the truth to these very real people in very real circumstances. And that alone contributes to the laugh quotient many times over. We are not being hit over the head with jokes or side winks to the audience. Instead, the performance plays out beautifully without anyone overstepping the realistic premise. Collins has found the perfect tempo and never deviates from it. It’s a delightful two-hour ride.

The scenic design by Brian Mallgrave and costume design by Meghan Anderson Doyle both add to the realism of the production. The set is a finely appointed home paired with perfectly dressed characters. Kudos also go to Jason Ducat for the sound design and Shannon McKinney for the lighting.

Before seeing The Book Club Play, I had no idea how one turns a literary discussion into a play. Karen Zacarias has written a terrific play and as presented by Arvada Center, one comes away with two laugh-filled hours in the theatre.