‘School for Lies’ well-revived: David Ives’ satire gets first-rate production courtesy of Janus Theatre

“The School for Lies” — 3.5 stars

Has ever a couple wooed as dyspeptically as the misanthropic Frank and the witty, widowed Celimene in David Ives’ “The School for Lies”?

Consider, for example, this verbal duel from Janus Theatre’s sharp, well-rehearsed revival of Ives’ deliciously caustic riff on Moliere’s masterful “The Misanthrope.” Frank (a commendably cantankerous Aaron Hoge) expresses his love with trademark candor stating: “Need lovers lie and cloy and smile? Your eyes are crooked. I have churning bile.”

To which the whip-smart Celimene (the urbane, acerbic Julie Bayer) replies: “Your unexpected declaration has sparked my own sub-gastric gurgitation.”

Those are among the barbed bon mots, bawdy innuendoes, slights and witticisms that make up Ives’ witty verse play — rooted in miscommunications and misinterpretation and written in rhymed couplets (a nod to the 17th-century satire that inspired it).

Conceived in 2011, Ives trimmed the “overly stuffed” two-act into a one-act in 2017. It is that “Barococo roller coaster” from 2017 that unfolds on the top floor of the 97-year-old Elgin Art Showcase under artistic director Sean Hargadon.

Setting the play in 1976, Hargadon punctuates the action with R&B soul, rock and disco hits. Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to be Real” and selections from “Saturday Night Fever” put smiles on the faces of opening-night audience members, who also responded enthusiastically to the retro props — a Slinky, View-Master, Magic 8 Ball and Rubik’s Cube — with which the characters entertain themselves when they’re not behaving badly.

The play begins with Ben Slabik II’s Philinte reminding the audience of the bygone days when fools and dunces infiltrated society and “scoundrels, loons and clowns of wild variety had influence, positions of great power.”

“Thank God we’ve none of that,” says Philinte, a people-pleaser whose manners prevent him from speaking truth to people.

His straight-shooter friend Frank (Hoge) has no such qualms. A self-described “tetchy wretch,” he speaks bluntly, behaves callously and reserves his harshest barbs for liars.

“Falsity infects our every phrase,” he says, “add in official lies, alternate facts, fake news in truth’s disguise. What do you get? … our age.”

Frank falls for Celimene who, as he observes, “is me inside a skirt.” She has more urgent concerns. Her sharp wit and insults have earned her a slander lawsuit, which forces her to enlist help from lawyer Clitander (Stephen Pickering). He’s one of three buffoons — including self-important poet Oronte (Matt Johnson) and dim-witted idler Acaste (Matt Hellyer) — who are vying for her affection.

The exception to Celimene’s acerbic circle is her cousin Eliante (Heidi Swarthout), a woman “aglow with goodness” who’s beloved by the decorous Philinte, but is more interested in the discourteous Frank. Jennifer Reeves Wilson plays Celimene’s best frenemy Arsinoe, described as a “spider dipped in talcum.”

“I never gossip, I just repeat,” says the pretend puritan and resentful rival whose toxic tête-à-têtes with Bayer crackle.

Much of the show’s physical comedy falls to Alexander Wisniewski, who plays the dual roles of Celimene’s dutiful servant DuBois and Frank’s gruff valet Basque. The former has the misfortune of serving canapés to oblivious aristocrats while the latter struggles to extricate his employer from an increasingly fraught situation.

Ives is quite the wordsmith. His poetry sparkles and his observations resonate. Case in point: Celimene’s statement that females must “flatter, wheedle, stroke … joke” to negotiate “our culture’s all-male apparatus, for we have men’s attention but no status.” While much improved since “The Misanthrope” premiered 359 years ago, a woman’s status remains unequal to a man’s.

Some of the comedic bits get repetitive and the final twist is contrived, but “The School for Lies” is a funny play, deftly performed by Hargadon’s tireless ensemble.

One thing more: Kudos to the Janus cast and crew for their efforts on a hot and humid opening night. Their sweat was well-earned.

• • •

Location: Janus Theatre Company at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. janusplays.com/

Showtimes: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 5 p.m. Sunday, through Aug. 31

Running time: About 100 minutes, no intermission

Tickets: $25

Parking: Street parking, free municipal lots

Rating: For adults; includes mature subject matter, adult language, sexual references and situations