WASILLA History shows Mat-Su Valley theater audiences enjoy a good English farce, and the
newest Valley Performing Arts’ (VPA) production that premiers at 8 p.m. today, “Run For Your
Wife,” will be no exception.

Written by Ray Cooney and directed for VPA’s stage by theater old-timer Grant Olson, “Run For
Your Wife” is the story of a London cab driver with two wives, two lives and a very precise
schedule for juggling them both.

When his schedule is upset after a head injury, John Smith becomes hopelessly entangled in his
attempts to explain himself to his wives and two
suspicious police officers.

Cast members have a precise schedule as well with many entrances and exits that create pressure and humor through this adult comedy. It is a credit to everyone involved in this sidesplitting performance that on-stage traffic flows so fluidly.

Logun Keller plays Smith, the bumbling, cabdriving
polygamist, with ease. His comical
expressions convincingly convey how it might
feel to be a man trying to keep two wives pleased
and unaware of each other’s existence.
Keller succeeds here in a challenging role. With
much dialogue, he will be the focus of the
audience’s attention, and once the silliness starts,
this can’t be an easy task.
Keller has previously delighted local audiences
as the lead in last season’s thriller “Dracula,” as
well as a handful of other notable performances for VPA.
Jamie Gipson portrays Mary Smith, a blissfully innocent wife. She carries her role as sweet yet
feisty well, reacting with appropriate horror to John’s attempts to explain himself. She has also
cultivated a convincing British accent that enhances her performance.
Jennifer Rausa plays John’s more frisky and sassy wife, Barbara. Rausa has exploded in VPA’s
past two seasons, playing roles in comedies, thrillers and dramas with the same passion. In “Run
for Your Wife,” she is most convincing when attempting to seduce her pestered husband, who
tries his best to comply with the amorous and social demands of his wives.
Costume designer Mary Putnam has created two different, yet noticeably glamorous, looks for
Gipson and Rausa, opting for a modern Victoria’s Secret catalog look.
Ted Carney is back again in “Run For Your Wife,” and is entertaining as Stanley Gardner, Mary
and John’s upstairs neighbor. His attempts to help John out of his difficult situation only adds to
the confusion and laughs. At one point John resorts to quoting the classic Oliver Hardy line,
“Another fine mess you’ve got me into, Stanley.”
Carney’s timing and expressiveness is reminiscent of Michael Richards’ “Kramer” character
from “Seinfeld,” with a twist of Charlie Chaplin, especially in the second act. It’s easy to forget
that Carney is acting.
Carney is comedy at VPA, despite many past attempts to broaden his range. His best works are
comedic roles, such as Stanley Gardener, giving audiences what they expect and love.
Newcomer Brian Daniels plays Barbara and John’s gay upstairs neighbor, Bobby Franklin.
Daniels, a dead-on ringer for “Christian” from this season’s hit Bravo television show “Project
Runway,” is cleverly quick and playful, despite playing on all the gay stereotypes. But this is
British farce, where inflated and one-dimensional characters are the foundations, and Bobby is
an example of stereotypes run rampant. It works.
Daniels’ loud Chelsea outfits and over-the-top demeanor steals the scenes with him in them, and
in return the laughs.
“This has been a learning experience for sure,” Daniels said.
Daniels graduated from Colony High School last year and has been pursuing acting since grade
school. Now at Mat-Su College, Daniels took director Olson’s beginning acting class and was
roped into auditioning for the part of Bobby.
“Grant said I should try out for the part, and here I am,” Daniels said. “It’s fun, because comedy
can be very serious and with this group we’ve managed to keep it focused but still have fun.”
Daniels, a fan of British comedy, said he plans to dive into other VPA productions in the future,
hopefully jumping into more dramatic roles and expand his acting range while still living in the
Valley.
John Fairfield and Bill Siedler play the equally funny detectives from two sides of London, both
determined to figure out what John Smith is up to.
Fairfield was seen in last season’s “Absurd Person Singular” while Siedler took the boards in
“Wait Until Dark.”
Once again, VPA challenges its free actors to take on British dialogue and the drudgery of
pulling off the accent that goes with it.
In “Run for Your Wife,” the cast may have finally perfected the often distracting and
unconvincing accent challenge at last; something lost in previous VPA productions.
For director Grant Olson, it’s all part of an actor’s job to sound and be persuasive once on stage.
His boot-camp style direction is comparable to that of Stanley Kubrick detailed, orderly and
precise.
After a two-year hiatus from directing on VPA’s stage, Olson read the script for “Run For Your
Wife” and knew he wanted to direct it, and the more time the better.
Actors began a strenuous rehearsal schedule in January, diving right into the often complicated
lines and accompanying movements that pull the farce off.
“I made no changes to this script,” Olson said. “It’s hilarious as it is. It is suggested for mature
audiences, but it’s a sex farce, just done in good taste. I am lucky working with the best in the
business for this one.”
Olson admits not everyone will find “Run For Your Wife” humorous.
“I’m hoping this one will run over into more dates,” he said.
As usual, the workers behind the scenes of this play outnumber the actors.
Dave Putnam designed the set and construction while Eric Deter provided the scenic artistry.
Cory Rausa and Rod Mehrtens once again running the lighting and sound.
“Run for Your Wife” begins tonight at 8 p.m. at the Valley Performing Arts’ Machetanz Theater.
Tickets are $16 and can be purchased online at Valleyperformingarts.org or by calling 373-0195.
Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com.

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