When I went to the Jungle Theater to see “Dinner for One” over the weekend, I was not aware that it’s a “thing” in Germany. Apparently, ever since it first aired on German TV on New Year’s Eve in 1972, the sketch has become a beloved tradition in that country and others around Europe. Millions of people watch the sketch — first recorded in 1963 by British actors Freddie Frinton and May Warden — every year, and they love it.
Originally written by British author Lauri Wylie for the theatre, the sketch portrays an elderly wealthy lady named Miss Sophie and her faithful butler James. It’s Miss Sophie’s birthday, and she’s invited all of her closest friends who sadly are no longer living, so James has to pretend to be each of them. He serves the elaborate multi-course meal to the pretend guests, tripping on the tiger rug each time he passes it and getting drunker and drunker as the sketch progresses.
In the Jungle’s version, co-created by director Christina Baldwin and actors Sun Mee Chomet and Jim Lichtscheidl, with music direction by Emilia Mettenbrink — the sketch gets expanded into a full-length play, which allows for a bit more development of the two characters and their relationship. Both Chomet and Lichtscheidl have the physical comedy chops to pull off the gags in the piece, but they also are portraying the nuances of their different characters in ways that allow the audience to fall into their story more deeply.
The Jungle begins its production as a silent film, complete with subtitles that appear on banners in various clever ways. A Victrola provides the soundtrack, which is later replaced by live musicians seemingly playing from one of the giant empty frames on the wall (in Eli Sherlock’s set design).
Lichtscheidl is a marvel to watch, especially when he gets going. Not only does he embody each of Miss Sophie’s late suitors with distinctive idiosyncrasy, he also handles the breakneck speed of his butler duties all while getting believably inebriated, he also layers in his complicated feelings for his long-time boss and companion. Chomet, meanwhile, is a gas as the haughty hostess, vamping with girlish flirtation one minute, befuddled frustration the next. They play off each other well, with lots of random twists and bizarre tangents along the way.
The U.S. may not have its own “Dinner for One” tradition, but the Jungle makes its case for correcting that historical error tout de suite.
Wed., Dec. 4-Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 7 at 2 p.m., Sun., Dec. 8 at 2 p.m., Mon., Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m., through Jan. 5, ($15-$95). More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at [email protected].