Elyse Mirto and Freddy Douglas play psychological warfare on each other in "The Guardsman." Photo by Craig Schwartz.

Ferenc Molnar's play takes play in pre-World War I Hungary, and follows an actor (Freddy Douglas) who is worried that his actress wife (Elyse Mirto) is getting the seven-year itch six months into their relationship. Determined to know for sure whether she plans on cuckolding him, he convinces her to tell him all about her ideal man, a guardsman in the Austrian military. He transforms himself into the aforementioned guardsmen and tries to seduce his wife, leading to plenty of confusion about mistaken identity and who is tricking whom.

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Under Michael Michetti's direction, "The Guardsman" is a tightly-woven comedy. Molnar's already-funny script (a stark contrast to his "Liliom," which was the source material for the musical "Carousel") is deftly played out by the cast, whose comedic timing is spot-on. In addition to the more-than-capable leads, Robertson Dean and Wendy Worthington heighten the hilarity as the Critic and Mother, doting older characters who look after the Actress—sort of. Each actor showcases a fully-realized and thoroughly humorous character, and their sense of play is infectious.

Tom Buderwitz's scenic design works well with A Noise Within's space to create the aristocratic world of the characters, switching with ease between an ornate, yet lived-in parlor and a box at the opera, while Garry D. Lennon's costumes are sumptious. Similarly, Adam Frank's lighting design creates a warm and friendly atmosphere for the play, though the stark contrast between light and dark proves overwhelming on some parts of A Noise Within's thrust stage.

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Given how unlikable all of the characters in "The Guardsman" should be, it's a testament to the comedic power of the actors and directors that everyone comes off as being lovably hilarious. While the play refuses to provide any concrete answers to the questions it raises, "The Guardsman" teaches the audience an important lesson about approaching uncertainty with humor.

"The Guardsman" is playing at A Noise Within (3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena) through November 30. Tickets are $25-$39. More information can be found at ANoiseWithin.org.

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