Asolo Rep's Lady Molly of Scotland Yard

SARASOTA — On Friday, the Asolo Repertory Theatre presented the world premiere of Ken Ludwig's Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, a whip-smart throwback comedy from a bonafide master of the genre.

It’s difficult to describe the magnitude of landing a world premiere by Ludwig, one of the industry's most produced playwrights. Asolo made the announcement early last year, noting that it had a strong relationship with Ludwig through productions of his work, including Murder on the Orient Express, The Games Afoot, Crazy For You, and Three Musketeers.

“Asolo Rep has staged such wonderful productions of my work over the last several years that I knew there was no theatre in the country better suited to developing Lady Molly of Scotland Yard,” Ludwig said at the time. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Peter Rothstein, whose expertise and experience will bring this play so joyously to life.”

Ludwig has a talent for creating modern odes to the farcical, slap-stick Broadway comedies of the 1930s and ‘40s, often setting his plays decades into the past where a current take can sort of wink at itself. Lady Molly of Scotland Yard is more comedy than mystery, but it makes for one hell of a good night out. The marquee production drew a banner cast of Broadway talent that, together with the majesty of the Mertz Theatre and unseasonably cold weather, made it easy to forget we weren’t in New York.

The play transports us to England during World War II, where a crack team (including Alan Turing) has been assembled to break the German Enigma code. Alas, it is discovered that there is a spy among the ranks, and it is decided that Molly and her sidekick Peg are the perfect women for the job.

Kate Loprest dazzles as Lady Molly, the brilliant investigator who never allows the low expectations of dimwitted men to stand in her way. Adeline Phelps gives a wonderful turn as Peg, and the comedic chemistry between the two actresses elevates the production significantly. Broadway veteran Ellen Harvey, who fans of Netflix’s House of Cards will recognize as Attorney General Martha Wilson, gives a superb performance filling no less than six roles, the most memorable of which were film star Gladys Claypoole and Clementine Churchill, wife of the Prime Minister.

Christian Thompson provides excellent support as several characters, including Duke, a U.S. soldier sweet on Peg, and jazz icon Louis Armstrong. Chris Hoch does an excellent Winston Churchill, as well as two professors and a military commander. Asolo went all out on a set by Alexander Dodge that is both ambitious and effective, with an assist going to Greg Emataz for excellent projection design. Jen Caprio’s costumes are stunning and period-correct, while Michelle Hart did an outstanding job of enhancing the outcome with era-specific hair and makeup.

Directed by Peter Rothstein, Lady Molly of Scotland Yard runs through Feb. 8. Visit the Asolo website for more information.

Dennis "Mitch" Maley is a novelist, as well as an editor and opinion columnist for The Bradenton Times. In addition to his regular Sunday column, he hosts our weekly podcast and does occasional theater, restaurant, and wine reviews. He is a graduate of Shippensburg University and later served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Click here for his bio. His novels and short story collection are available here.