by Joel Benjamin

As you enter the Mint Theater for Fashions for Men re-set your high speed 21^st Century timer to the slower, more elegant pacing of the early 20^th Century when plays had three (or more) acts and characters had the kind of moral convictions that seem slightly eccentric to our modern sensibilities.   Ferenc Molnar’s comedy/drama, Fashions for Men at the troupe’s Times Square space has been given a manicured, lovingly detailed production, directed by Davis McCallam who lets every luscious detail unspool at a delectable tempo.

Young, handsome Peter Juhász (Joe Delafield) is the soft-hearted owner of a men’s and women’s fashion boutique in Budapest.   Unfortunately, he allows haughty deadbeat customers to run up huge debts; gives his employees too much leeway; and keeps his wife on a pretty, but passion-free pedestal.  His kindness and permissiveness has allowed the store to founder into near bankruptcy.  He is losing his beloved wife, Adele (Annie Purcell) to one of his clerks, the slick, ambitious Oscar (John Tufts).  Peter’s backer, the Count (Kurt Rhoads) has his eye on Peter’s pretty, dutiful secretary, Paula (Rachel Napoleon) who secretly longs for Peter.  Wise, old clerk Philip (Jeremy Lawrence) floats about the haberdashery like an owlish Greek chorus, seeing everything and knowing all.

Peter does lose the store, at least temporarily, until he can raise some cash (which he would have had if his unfaithful wife hadn’t given it to her soon-to-be husband, Oscar).  Bereft, Peter is forced to work at the Count’s cheese farm, joined by loyal Paula who has to fend off the Count’s lascivious advances. 

Peter proves himself just as hopeless an overseer at the Count’s farm as at his store.  The Count and Paula concoct an outlandish plan to reunite Peter with his beloved haberdashery leading to many unforeseen twists and turns that eventually tie together all the plot tendrils into a pretty, satisfying bouquet.  Peter to keeps his store, his morals and his old-fashioned romantic notions while still getting even with those that did him wrong.

John Tufts & Rachel Napoleon

The acting from the leads to the character parts was excellent.  Mr. Delafield has a boyish handsomeness that he used to his advantage.  His angelic demeanor helped make his over-the-top courtesies more palatable.  Ms. Napoleon made Paula a young woman with a strength and intelligence.  As the Count, Kurt Rhoads exuded upper class privilege without descending into mustache twirling.  Mr. Lawrence’s Philip was wise but not lacking in self-mockery while John Tufts’ Oscar just avoided being unlikeable with his youthful ardor and ambition.  Annie Purcell’s Adele was unpleasant, but not without redeeming features.

Jill Tanner made a colorful impression as an imperious, but impecunious customer as did Mark Bedard, Michael Schantz, Maren Searle, John Seidman and Gabra Zackman in multiple parts.

The production was quite extravagant by off-Broadway standards, with every element creating not only beautiful stage pictures but keeping to Molnar’s period and style.  The sets (Daniel Zimmerman), costumes (Martha Hally), wigs & hair (Robert-Charles Vallance), props (Joshua Yocom) and even the incidental music (Jane Shaw) were all in service to telling this story with all its period grace and ambiance.

Fashions for Men – through March 29, 2015
Mint Theater Company
311 West 43^rd St., 3^rd Floor (between 8^th & 9^th Avenues)
New York, NY
Tickets:  866-811-4111 or www.minttheater.org
Running time:  2 hours, 40 minutes, two intermissions