'Clever Little Lies' Brings Big Laughs And Deceit To Guild Hall

In his 17 years running George Street Playhouse in New Jersey, artistic director David Saint had never seen anything like it.

He hustled backstage right before curtain call for “Clever Little Lies”—the newest comedy from Tony Award-winning playwright Joe DiPietro—and nearly collided with lead actor Marlo Thomas.

“What was that?” exclaimed the shell-shocked star, known for her role on the 1960s sitcom “That Girl,” which earned her a Golden Globe. “They’re still going crazy!”

She gestured to the roaring audience, hidden by the curtain that had just fallen on the production’s world premiere. The cast and crew knew the play was funny. They knew it had meat. But they had no idea it would be “this wild stallion, just let out of the gate,” Mr. Saint said.

The director thought it was a fluke. That is, until audiences reacted the same way, every night, throughout the play’s entire five-week run.

Ms. Thomas and her co-stars—Greg Mullavey, Kate Wetherhead and Jim Stanek—were astounded. “We were thrown by how much the audience loves to laugh at other people’s misery,” said Mr. Stanek, seated next to Ms. Thomas and Mr. Saint during an interview on Friday at Guild Hall in East Hampton, where the original play will stage through August 3. “I still tell people, it was one of the first shocking moments in my 20 years of performing.”

“But more than the humor, this play has such humanity,” Ms. Thomas added. “This is a real family, and they have real problems. They love each other, but they lie to protect each other. And you have a lot of decisions to make, as an audience.”

The play opens with Bill Jr., portrayed by Mr. Stanek, confessing to his father, portrayed by Mr. Mullavey, that he is having an affair with a younger woman. He begs Bill Sr. to keep quiet, but it doesn’t take long for his fiercely passionate wife—Ms. Thomas’s character—to uncover the truth and devise a scheme to save her son’s marriage.

“I like to think I make all the right decisions in my life,” Mr. Stanek said. “It’s tough to play somebody who, when you read the play, you’re going, ‘What are you doing, man? You’re making major, major miscalculations about everything.’ And then he’s doing them.”

“Every guy is going to identify with Jim’s character,” Mr. Saint said. “And if they don’t, they’re lying.”

“Except my husband,” Ms. Thomas smirked.

“Because you’re ‘That Girl’?” Mr. Saint teased.

“Not anymore.”

“‘That Woman,’” the director corrected himself. “Our woman.”

“You’re like America’s sweetheart,” Mr. Stanek said.

“Get over it,” Ms. Thomas laughed. “No, no, I’m very proud. And I’m just glad to be back in rehearsal. We’re champing at the bit to get an audience in here.”

The cast is experiencing a bit of an adjustment period, they said, both to the new stage and to the endless awkward silences—where, they’ve realized, a laugh should be.

“It’s lonely in there,” Ms. Thomas said, gesturing to the theater.

“The audience is like the fifth character,” Mr. Saint explained.

“But we’re looking forward to this new crowd, because they could surprise the heck out of us,” Mr. Stanek said. “Hopefully, in a good way.”

“Clever Little Lies” will stage on Wednesday, July 16, and Thursday, July 17, at 8 p.m. at Guild Hall in East Hampton. Performances will continue Tuesdays to Sundays, through August 3, at 8 p.m. Matinée performances will be offered on Sundays, July 27 and August 3, at 3 p.m. No 8 p.m. showing on Friday, July 25, or August 3. Tickets start at $40. For more information, call (631) 324-0806, or visit guildhall.org.