Play by Limelight runs through Sept. 18 at the Gilroy Center for the Arts

By Camille Bounds

Camille Bounds

Limelight Theater’s “The Outsider” is an explosion of fantastic talent, sidesplitting comic timing and super entertainment. Here is one dazzling show you are guaranteed to really get your money’s worth. The performers put forth amazing talent and energy for a fun 90-minutes of mirth and amusement.

Playwright Paul Slade Smith’s show is about a timid politician who overnight accidentally finds himself the state governor after the previous governor resigns following a sex scandal. This razor-sharp satire skewers the fact in government that when it comes to politics, the less the public thinks you know, the higher you’ll go.

The play celebrates the promise of democracy while poking fun at the people attracted to politics.

The play opened Limelight Theater’s 2022-2023 season Aug. 26 for a four weekend run. The theater is in downtown Gilroy at the Center for the Arts building.

Peter Mandel (as the brand-new “Gov. Ned Newly”) provides a solid performance as brilliant and smart in government but has no social skills and suffers a paralyzing fear of public speaking and the news media.

Even though Chief of Staff “Dave Riley” (played by Guillermo Morales) believes Ned will be a political failure, overbearing professional political consultant “Arthur Vance” (Jason Harris) sees things differently and sets about to transform Ned’s public image.

Other performers in the cast are Allie Bailey who plays professional pollster “Paige Caldwell,” Christy Wright who plays temporary employee “Louise Peakes,” and more than holds her own as the off-the-wall temp who revels in the fact she doesn’t know what she is doing. Lisa Serra plays the TV reporter “Rachel Parsons,” and Michele Leonard-Maher plays TV cameraperson “A.C. Petersen.”

The play is directed by JoAnna Evans who keeps the story moving at  a riotous pace.

The set construction by Mandel and scenic artist Susan Graeser fit well with this remarkable production that keeps this very convoluted plot moving and interesting. Emily Shem-Tov is Limelight’s managing director.

“The Outsider” is the perfect antidote for the heaviness of America’s recent political crisis, and it’s especially fun with the election season ramping up. Running before the elections in November, the show’s political theme is very timely and topical to be addressing what politics and candidates are in today’s world, especially with the media.

Despite the complications of the situation, the show’s message is a positive one about the future of democracy.

Its theme suggests that although there is much stupidity in government, we all can remain hopeful because there are a lot of good leaders out there, too.

Spend an enjoyable evening’s entertainment with “The Outsiders” and you can’t help leaving the theater rejuvenated.

This is a solid presentation that has wonderful comic timing and up to date humor spinning.