MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1999

Play explores adultery with hilarious results

By Lot Tan

On-line Forty-Niner

Adultery, lying and bribery. No, this is not another story about the White House. However, these are the central themes in a hilarious play titled "Don't Dress For Dinner."

The comedy is Robin Howdon's adaptation of Marc Camoletti's "Pajamas for six," which played to standing room only crowds in Paris for two years.

Paul Gafner stars as the cheating husband Bernard, who is hoping to entertain his beautiful mistress, Suzanne, for the weekend. He has arranged for a cook to prepare a gourmet dinner. He has even invited his best friend Robert, performed brilliantly by Bill Peters, as a suitable alibi.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline, his wife - played well by Kathleen Chapin - is packing to go visit her mother.

The plan seems foolproof; what could possibly go wrong? Just about everything. In the great tradition of French farce, the play hurdles along at the speed of light.

Jacqueline finds out that Robert - who happens to be her lover - is coming. So she decides to stay, which drives Bernard crazy because he does not want her to meet his mistress. He quickly tells Robert to pretend that Suzanne is his mistress.

The plan would work beautifully if Suzanne arrived on time. Instead, Suzette the cook, played hilariously by Lee Anne Moore, arrives and is thrown into the confusion. Robert thinks she is the mistress and asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend.

Confused? Bernard is married to Jacqueline, but is having an affair with Suzanne. Jacqueline is also cheating on Bernard with his best friend Robert. Weren't these characters on Jerry Springer?

"Don't Dress For Dinner" runs through May 15. The Long Beach Playhouse is at 5021 E. Anaheim St. For tickets or more information, one may call (562) 494-1616.