A strong-willed princess puts oomph in 'Triumph'

Parents who don't buy into the "damsel-in-distress" heroines of the Disney Princesses marketing machine might consider steering their kids to the princess of Pierre Marivaux's 1732 romantic French comedy "The Triumph of Love." True, the high-falutin' comic text of Stephen Wadsworth's English translation doesn't have the instant appeal of animation, nor is it easy to successfully pull off as seen in Janus Theatre's game attempt now playing at the Elgin Art Showcase.

But the way Marivaux makes Princess Leonide the smartest and wittiest character in "The Triumph of Love" is admirable. Not only does Leonide dispatch Machiavellian schemes of the heart to get the prince she loves, there's also the matter of bringing peace to two rival factions in the kingdom.

The gimmick is that Leonide (Jocelyn Mills) disguises herself and her servant, Corine (Erin Spears-Rizvi), as gentlemen to infiltrate the estate of philosopher Hermocrate (Joseph Schuman) and his sister, Leontine (Bonnie Wadleigh). These dry old sticks have renounced love and try to steer Agis (Jeff Dolecek), a handsome if doltish exiled prince in their care, to do the same.

Leonide is aided by two money-grubbing servants, the crotchety gardener Dimas (Rich Baker) and the randy valet Harlequin (Sean Hargadon, who also directs the production). Sure enough, Leonide sets about all sorts of gender-bending confusion as she makes her chaste targets fall passionately in love with him/her.

Janus Theatre's production is fun, though it doesn't quite capture the arch style needed to make the comic material of audience asides and verbal puns into a constant laugh fest. More often than not, it's the situations that are funny instead of the actors' rushed and loudly declaimed delivery of the text.

Still, there is much to delight in Janus Theatre's production. Suzanne Brown and Bernice Ferraro's plush Regency-era costumes add immeasurably to the comic proceedings (particularly the dandified wedding regalia for Hermocrate and Leontine). Dolecek's tall and naïve prince Agis is pitched perfectly, while Baker's scratchy-voiced gardener wins us with his rascally obstinacy.

Even if Princess Leonide's tactics are sometimes cruel, they're all meant only to be kind in this grown-up fairytale that stresses the overpowering strength of love. So if you're looking for a smart and take-charge kind of heroine for the Valentine's season, seek out "The Triumph of Love."

"The Triumph of Love"

Two and a half stars out of four

Location: Janus Theatre at Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., 8th floor, Elgin

Times: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays; through Feb. 24

Running time: 2 hours with intermission

Parking: Street parking and area garages

Tickets: $15; $12 students/seniors

Box office: (847) 931-0637

Rating: Minor sexual innuendo, but largely suitable for all