Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday, by Garson Kanin
Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
December 5, 2013

Synopsis (from the Guthrie website):
A Broadway triumph-turned-1950 Academy Award-nominated film Born Yesterday is a deliciously witty screwball comedy about a corrupt businessman trying to get ahead. Harry Brock, a junk-dealer millionaire on the rise, hunkers down in a lavishly decorated hotel room in Washington with his brassy chorus girl girlfriend Billie Dawn in tow. Hoping to influence a senator in some personal business dealings, he soon gets advice suggesting that the seemingly dim-witted blonde will need a little polish to get ahead in D.C. society. Brock hires a newspaperman for the task but gets more than he bargained for when, in a deliriously funny and romantic turn of events, he discovers a little bit of learning can be a dangerous thing. Don’t miss this sharp-witted crooked comedy – a swell escape for family and friends this holiday season!

If you're looking for a play this December that isn't A Christmas Carol (which I've seen advertised in no fewer than four local theatres this month--including the Guthrie), this might just be the right choice.

Let's be honest, like any loyal attendee, I have my favorite Guthrie actors. There are many who will be the reason I see a show--at the Guthrie or not--and I defy anyone not to adore Sally Wingert. Seriously. If you don't, you're doing something wrong.

Born Yesterday brings a number of new faces to the Guthrie's stage, and we're all better off for that.
Particularly Alexis Bronkovic, the actress who plays Billie Dawn, deserves high praise for many parts of her performance; probably most impressive was her composure in the face of unpredictable audience reactions. The best thing for me about the Guthrie's proscenium stage is that my seat is in the front row, almost in the center. At one memorable point near the end of Act I, Billie sits down stage playing cards with Harry, making an extraordinary series of faces as she arranges her hand. The amount of time she spends rearranging her cards while looking alternately deliberate, exuberant, confused, frustrated (see some of this below) is marvelous--and my seat put me probably three feet from her as I leaned forward and laughed into her face. Yep, I'm that girl.

Throughout the show, Bronkovic's portrayal of Billie brought a fresh energy and life to a mid-twentieth century play that can so easily turn into a cliche. This cast, under the always-apt direction of John Miller-Stephany, never strayed in that direction. John Patrick Hayden as Paul Verrall was charming and Jeff Still as Harry Brock was a convincingly oafish and shady millionaire. Thanks to the Guthrie for these new additions to the Minneapolis stage.

And, wow, was that set gorgeous.

Born Yesterday is playing on the McGuire Proscenium Stage until January 5.