Dawson players end season with 18th-century romp

The production was the last of this season, and the players definitely went off on a high note, sending constant streams of laughter through Dawson's new theatre building during the play's run from April 16 to 27.

Directed by Betrand A. Henry and narrated by a comically intrusive Mrs. Wilson (Stephanie Costa), the romantic comedy's twisted plot tells the story of the young, charismatic footman Joseph Andrews (played alternately by Shayne Devouges and Jaime del Aguila)) and his friend, the absent-minded parson Abraham Adams (Thomas Kolofsky and James Harrington) as they travel together, encountering a wide variety of characters along the way. From the widow Lady Booby (Sarah Segal-Lazar) to the chambermaid Slipslop (Edith Bolduc) and of course his true love Fanny (Maureen Fung), Joseph finds himself the unwitting object of affection from virtually every female character in the play.

Special credit must be given to set designer Marie Dumas, who created a simplistic yet effective set using only pieces essential to the plot, to costume designer Barbara Cerbo, who brilliantly evoked the feel of the era, and to lighting director Steve Schön.

P.M. Clepper would be proud of this rendition of Joseph Andrews, while director Henry and Dawson’s theatre students should be proud of a job well done with this difficult material.