The Dingdong

The Dingdong is set in Paris in 1938, which we only find out at the end of the show when one of the characters exclaims: “This is Paris in 1938, only good things are heading our way!” This is probably the funniest joke in the play although it is supposed to be a “door slamming sex farce”. This is how the playwright Mark Shanaham refers to the work of George Feydeau, whose play, Le Dindon written in 1896, he adopted.

Besides changing the time period, Shanaham got rid of some and added other characters and made the cast of five actors play 13 roles. Director Hal Brooks did a great job at orchestrating the appearances and exits timing with wardrobe changes. Here the “door slamming” element comes into play. The transforming set designed by Sandra Goldmark provided multiple doors for that, but the entire construction was shaking furiously every time the French doors of the apartment in the first act were slammed.

Although the ingenuity of the construction is worth the applause and minimalistic and highly stylized design is a very noble intention, but over all the work of Sandra Goldmark had a hurried vibe. Costumes by Amy Clark, on the other hand, were very elaborate and detailed. The combination of predominantly purple and lilac dresses on women in combination with the bright canary floor was a little too painful for the eyes but it created a kitschy visual style appropriate for the play.

The Dingdong follows the bedroom adventures of Lucy and Vatelin, as well as three other married couples and a few of their friends and accidental acquaintances. This play is the embodiment of the stereotype that Paris is the most romantic city on earth where everybody looks to get laid.  

The irony is that all the exaggerated flirting and seducing leads, not to passionate sex, but to a lot of comedic gags involving mixing up partners, running around and hiding as well as some fart jokes. The attempt of catching her husband in the act of infidelity and paying an eye for an eye ends with everybody involved hugging in a burst of love and forgiveness in the middle of the hotel room wearing their underwear.