Top drawer staging of The Underpants
Four out of four stars

"The Germans being to sex farce what the French are to rock ‘n’ roll, it’s difficult to say who deserves the most credit for all that chortling going on in Chelsea: Sternheim for the story, writer-comedian Martin for the contemporary update..., or (Anthony) Caselli and his cast for their massive infusion of physical glee. Caselli and company would seem to get the nod."

Martin F. Kohn
Detroit Free Press

Tight, agile cast keeps Underpants moving

"Light as the froth around your post-Easter omelet, The Underpants delivers more than enough laughs to make the drive to Chelsea worthwhile... Under Anthony Caselli’s direction, each cast member seems perfectly suited to the task of ushering this nonsense into the new century. And designer Bart Bauer’s apartment setting resonates down to the icebox in the kitchen and the canary in the cage."

Joan Behrmann
The Detroit News

Purple Rose’s hit Underpants is revealing comedy

"Director Anthony Caselli’s rapid-fire staging keeps the audience laughing from start to finish... With such a talented cast, great material and smart direction, it’s hard not to fall under the spell of the delightfully naughty Underpants."

Judith Cookis-Rubens
The Oakland Press

Purple Rose production lives up to its billing
The Underpants a delightful romp

"... a wonderfully funny evening at The Purple Rose Theatre Company... In a cast of strong performances, one in particular stands out: (Randall) Godwin is a marvel. A great physical comedian, Godwin seems gifted with a skeleton made of rubber, his contortions are hilarious, and his nervous habits are reminiscent of Don Knotts. The Underpants is a delightful production."

Roger Lelievre
The Ann Arbor News

The Underpants a wardrobe malfunction worth seeing

"The playwright, the actors, and the director Anthony Caselli don’t spoil the jokes with earnest social commentary... The linchpin of this little collection of lovables is the husband, played by Wayne David Parker, whose portrayal of a self-satisfied, bullying, chauvinistic proto-Aryan is brilliantly inventive. Parker makes every one of Martin’s lines sing, and he’s a physical comedian on a par with Martin himself: one hilariously balletic bit he does with a footstool is worth the price of admission all by itself."

Sally Mitani
Ann Arbor Observer

Sophisticated silly sex farce is bloomin’ fun!
The Bottom Line: Don’t get your panties in a knot: Sure it’s silly – but live theatre rarely gets better than this!

"Everyone needs a good chuckle in these depressing times of war and presidential campaigns, so get on your knees and thank your favorite deity for The Purple Rose Theatre Company. Then head to Chelsea for The Underpants, a good old-fashioned bedroom farce that will knock your knickers off – in a comedic sense, of course! ...As he proved earlier this season...Director Anthony Caselli has a flair for comedy. His attention to detail and split-second timing especially shine in this production, and his scene changes – which are totally in-tune with the flow of the story – are exceptionally well-choreographed... it is Randall Godwin who, as the Jewish barber with more chutzpah than even he realizes, brings the house down on more than one occasion. It is a brilliant performance from start to finish. All technical aspects – as they have been all season – are excellent!" Donald V. Calamia Between The Lines

Purple Rose presents a delightful farce

"Director Anthony Caselli has orchestrated the ensemble flawlessly. Even the transitions between scenes are amusing... The cast hits every joke in the show superbly with the intelligence Steve Martin demands. The battle of wits between Theo and Versati is a hilarious back-and-forth with bizarre wordplay... The Michigan premiere of The Underpants at the Purple Rose is a solid comedy. As the characters plot bizarre things around him, Theo ironically states, ‘People are all quick to move on to find the next sensational thing.’ However, this show is one sensational thing not to be missed."

Bill Hohnke
The Chelsea Standard

"Director Anthony Caselli has tuned the pacing to keep its edge through what feels like a very short evening. The actors fall so comfortably into their characters, you can almost imagine that the play was written especially for them. From the physical flopping of Randall Godwin as Cohen to the elaborate poetic movements of John Lepard as Versati, The Underpants is a verbal and sensual delight... The Underpants is smart, modern and very, very funny. Pack up the entire family and have a great laugh together."

Steve Daut
Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce