Around the World in 80 Days

Every week millions of viewers tune into the reality TV show “The Amazing Race,” a competition where participants race to be the first to reach a variety of foreign checkpoints. Today travel agencies offer all-inclusive packages allowing vacationers to circumvent the globe. But there was once a time when such glob trekking travel was thought preposterous.

Ocean State Theatre Company takes a humorous look at such a notion in Mark Brown’s stage adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel Around the World in 80 Days. Set in London during the late 19th century, the apex of Britain’s world domination, the play opens with the snotty and wealthy businessman Phileas Fogg betting fellow members at The Reform Club that he can travel around the world in 80 days.

Initially, the club members think Fogg is joking. But he quickly affirms the seriousness of his intentions stating in a very matter-of-fact manner: “A true Englishman never jokes about anything as serious as a wager.”

Fogg serves as the perfect representation of the self-assured Englishman who uses reason and mathematics to solve problems. Three major technological advances also occurred in the years prior to Fogg’s boastful claim thus fortifying his confidence: the opening of the Suez Canal, the completion of the Indian railway connecting Bombay to Calcutta and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in the US, all of which made travel by sea and land much easier.

Billed as the “original amazing race,” the fictionalized Around the World in 80 Days is a clever production, albeit a bit silly at times, but it works, making for some extremely entertaining theater. Highlighted by some fine performances where five actors portray 37 characters, scenic director Michael E. Martineau nearly steals the show.

His set is minimal but remarkably innovative. Much of the action occurs on a train platform where the actors traverse two opposing staircases to simulate travel. Throughout the play, pieces of the set are disassembled and then reassembled to create new sets (i.e., a steamboat, a train, a sail boat, a courtroom). And, much to the audience’s delight, the actors construct an elephant utilizing an assortment of trunks and suitcases, a kite, two large hand fans and a blanket.

But much of the show’s success does fall disproportionately on the actors’ shoulders. In addition to playing multiple roles, they are also responsible for all set changes, with director Mark Torres inserting a charming dance sequence to fill the time during the elephant building scene. Given the scope of their roles, the fumbling of a few opening night lines was forgivable.

Russell Garrett perfectly portrays the stereotypical British snob with his stiff posture and upturned nose. But there is more to Fogg than meets the eye with his stopping twice, jeopardizing his journey, once to save a woman from a human sacrifice and again to search for his missing valet. There are also some nice tender moments between Fogg and his love interest, a relationship that develops naturally throughout the play.

Rhode Island native Jonathan Fisher literally wears the most hats, tackling 16 roles, excelling in all. But he is especially funny as “Proctor” and “Engineer” where the play has some fun depicting American southerners as simpleminded. During a shoot-out with Indians, Proctor shouts for them to go back to their own land.

As Fogg’s faithful valet Passepartout, Matt Jones ably handles much of the show’s slapstick humor, often opposite David Groccia’s bumbling Detective Fix, who doggedly pursues Fogg believing him to be a bank robber on the run. Though Groccia can be hyper at times, the ongoing joke of him trying to hide his identity by constantly introducing himself as “Detet Uhh Ahh Fixx” never gets old.

Minita Gandhi plays Fogg’s love interest Aouda, but she is best early in the play as the Newspaperman with many quick, witty lines – though she is hilarious later helping fend off an Indian ambush.

OSTC’s production of “Around the World in 80 Days” runs through November 22. For tickets or more information, visit oceanstatetheatre.org.