M.J. Sieber and David Pichette. Photo by Jay Koh.
Now at the Village Theatre (at the Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah through February 27 and at the Everett Performing Arts Center March 4 -27) is the cat-and-mouse thriller, Sleuth. The real thrill in this production, though, is watching a veteran Seattle actor at the top of his game.
Just like a good mystery novel, the fun in Sleuth is in discovering the details for yourself. The Village Theatre folks have asked that we not share plot details to avoid spoilers. What I can tell you is that the story begins when wealthy mystery novelist Andrew Wyke invites Milo Tindle to his English country estate for a bit of “unfinished business” and a duel of wit, words, and “games-playing.”
As the genteel Andrew Wyke, David Pichette is brings the big guns. Pichette is an actor who, like British actor Rowan Atkinson (known to BBC fans as both the goofy Mr. Bean and the witty, acerbic Blackadder), is equally facile with verbal pyrotechnics and broad phyisical comedy. In Sleuth, we get to see him exercise his skills in both. His Andrew Wyke is endearingly campy and still he resists the actor’s temptation to play too much to the audience. If you were fortunate enough to see Pichette’s Polonius in Seattle Shakes’ recent Hamlet, you’ve seen how he can take a simple line and infuse it with so much meaning. It’s like he’s the Eric Clapton of Seattle actors. Or hell, actors.
As the earnest Milo Tindle, Seattle’s M.J. Sieber is fine, but he’s easily eclipsed by Pichette. Sieber just seems a bit outclassed at every turn. It’s easy to believe Pichette is his character as he embraces him so completely, but I almost never forgot that Sieber was an actor. Because Pichette is so good in so many ways, anything short of that — unfortunately for Sieber — stands out in sharper relief. Think Keanu vs. Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing. It’s the risk you run in pairing such a skillful actor with one who isn’t quite up to that level.
Still, even with the slightly uneven match, this production is highly enjoyable. Sleuth is directed by Issaquah resident and Tony-, Grammy-, Emmy-, Drama Desk- and Peabody-award winning lyricist, composer and director, Martin Charnin. Charnin is perhaps best known as the creator, lyricist and director of the Broadway hit Annie. The intricate manor house set is beautifully designed by Martin Christoffel.
MJ Sieber is a talented actor, and I have to cry foul at comparing him to Keanu Reeves, even for the purposes of this analogy.