A review of the American Stage Theatre’s production of Around the World in 80 Days called it “a whizzing good time.” My immature mind immediately goes to a different kind of whizzing but I’m happy about the good review.

“American Stage’s rollicking production of Mark Brown’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s famous novel will tickle you the way Monty Python did in its heyday. It is full of dry humor and double-takes, rubbery faces and razor-sharp repartee.”

My friend Brad DePlanche is in the production. He’s been in 1,683 productions of Around the World in 80 Days, but always as Phileas Fogg’s faithful servant, Passepartout. In this production he’s playing the completely inept Detective Fixx. I’ve known Brad for a long time and he’s a tremendous actor. He was in the world premiere of China – The Whole Enchilada at the New York Fringe Festival. We ended up being awarded “Outstanding Musical.” Brad was terrific in the show and in fact, I wrote the part for him. If you buy the script you’ll see his character’s name is Brad.

I’m hoping to get up to St. Pete to see Brad in the show. I’m in Sarasota right now, knee deep in rehearsals for the world premiere of my new play Tom Jones, but I think I can make it up there.