‘The Fortune Cookie’ @ Mesquite Arts Theatre
Photos/Graphics courtesy of Mesquite Arts Theatre
—Carol M. Rice
I love seeing new works onstage, even if they’re adaptations of something from another medium. At Mesquite Arts Theatre, Dan C. Rogers has adapted Billy Wilder’s hilarious 1966 film The Fortune Cookie (originally starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in their first onscreen pairing together) with mixed yet entertaining results.
Harry Hinkle is a sports photographer who was run over by Luther “Boom Boom” Jackson on the sidelines of a football game. By the time Harry wakes up in the hospital, his brother-in-law Willie—a personal injury lawyer—has already come up with a scheme to defraud the insurance company, even though Harry’s injuries are actually minor. But Harry decides to go along with it, in the hope that he can win back his ex-wife Sandy in the process.
As Harry, Douglas Kent spends a lot of time in an uncomfortable looking neck brace yet still manages to perform some fun physical comedy, especially toward the end of the play. Kent is the quintessential “Everyman,” and he gives Harry the perfect sad-sack personality to make the audience sympathize with him, and later cheer when he finds his voice and stands up against the fraud.
A complete contrast to Harry is “Whiplash Willie” Gingrich, played with boisterous pomposity by David Colville. Willie is one of those slimy, over-confident lawyers everyone loves to hate, and Colville plays him to the hilt.
As Sister Veronica and Dr. Wannamaker, Jacque Marshall and David Murphy are another contrast in types. Sister Veronica is one smart cookie, and fed up with all the shenanigans she thinks are going on in Harry’s hospital room—including those of Dr. Wannamaker. Marshall is a powerhouse, especially when trying to keep the doctor focused, which is not an easy task. And Murphy doesn’t play the clueless doctor for laughs, which is why the character works and thereby gets plenty of them.
Doris Villarreal has a complete ball as Mother Hinkle, Harry’s ridiculously over-emotional mother, who is sure her poor son is about to die from the injuries he’s sustained. Her constant loud bawling wins a lot of well-deserved laughs, and she steals every scene she’s in. Be sure to watch for her at curtain call for another big laugh!
As the not very bright (yet with a heart of gold) Boom Boom, Tyler Lewis allows his guilt at “maiming” Harry to nearly destroy his pro football career…and instead becomes Harry’s loyal caregiver. Lewis does a nice job as the big ol’ puppy dog following Harry everywhere to take care of him. He and Kent seem to be battling to see who can be wracked with more guilt: Boom Boom believes it’s all his fault Harry may never walk again—and Harry feels bad for ruining Boom Boom’s game, even as he gets really sick of the constant attention while he’s “laid up.” These two have great chemistry together.
Christopher Sholars shines as Purkey, a private investigator spying on Harry for the insurance company. Purkey is extremely focused and good at his job, and Sholars provides him with just the right amount of authority mixed with bravado. Sholars has excellent stage presence, comic timing, and facial expressions. I wish his part had been bigger: he was a lot of fun to watch.
Victoria Sawyer-Wells portrays Sandy, Harry’s ex, as a conniving dumb blonde—the type so often found in mid-1960s films like this. While we as audience members recognize what Harry saw in her, we’re also much smarter than he is, apparently; it’s easy for us to see right through her. Her money-grubbing affection towards Harry just makes your skin crawl.
Rounding out the cast are Jinger Jones as Willie’s wife, who loves her Mama and her new fur coat (courtesy of Willie’s anticipated cut from Harry’s case); Brikena Wilson as Dr. Schindler, a dentist or veterinarian (???) Willie hires to help drug Harry before his medical tests; Samuel Hyland as Dr. Tortellini, an insurance company doctor who thinks most injuries are fake; and Amy Haberman as Maxine, Purkey’s perky, emotionally invested partner. James Mychael was the voice of the Sportscaster and O’Brian.
Dan C. Rogers acted not only as the playwright for this original adaptation of The Fortune Cookie, but also as the director. The script is somewhat confusing because it’s hard to figure out the time period, and we aren’t given a hint in the program. The actors use cell phones, yet the amounts they want from the insurance company (plus various medical terms) are obviously mired in the 1960s. And does a 21st-century woman really want a fur coat and hat from her husband these days? I liked the idea of the updated setting, but wanted it to be more consistent.
As director, Rogers did a great job with casting and blocking, but pace was extremely slow in places at the performance I attended opening weekend. Hopefully that will pick up as the run continues.
Wearing his third hat on the production, Rogers was also the set designer, and the transition from hospital to Harry’s apartment worked well, as did the scenes located in other places. However, the lights didn’t always make it to some of the scenes downstage. A lighting designer isn’t noted in the program but Ilir Wilson is listed as the lights/sound technician.
Mesquite Arts Theatre has really upped their game over the past few years, adding classes and improv nights to their offerings. Adding new works to their season is another way they’re moving away from typical community theatre fare and taking chances with the plays they do. The Fortune Cookie is yet another step in the right direction.
If you’re familiar with the classic film version of this story (the Polish-born Billy Wilder had a real gift for snappy American dialogue), you’ll definitely want to take a look at Mesquite Arts Theatre’s production. And if you don’t know the movie, just come to support a new play! Either way, you’re in for some solid performances and good laughs.
WHEN: April 11-17, 2025
WHERE: Mesquite Arts Center, 1527 N. GallowayAve., Mesquite TX
WEB: mesquiteartstheatre.org
