Put David Hyde Pierce on a stage and I'm already laughing.  His delicious deadpan delivery is unmatched, and in case you missed him in Curtains, he's back on Broadway, but this time not singing or dancing.  Rather, he's starring in La Bête, a 1991 comedy set in 17th century France.  Be aware what you are getting yourself into with this one - it's a period play spoken in verse and playwright David Hirson hardly dumbs it down for the Broadway tourist.  But once I got past the florid language and rhyming iambic pentameter, I found the show quite lovely.

Mark Rylance and David Hyde Pierce: Look at us, we're French!

The story is actually quite simple: David Hyde Pierce plays Elomire, the leader of a theater troupe who has been charged with accepting a new member - Valere (also known as La Bête, the beast), played masterfully by Mark Rylance.  Valere is, to put it mildly, disgusting, and perhaps more offensive, he is blissfully unaware of it.  The first 30 minutes of the show consist basically of a monologue by Valere, in which he commands the stage, talking about everything and nothing, and generally being an awfully inconsiderate (if not well-meaning) human being.  He actually takes his pants off and mocks going to the bathroom, if that gives you any hint of his beastliness.

The show presses on with Joanna Lumley playing The Princess, who insists that Valere become part of the troupe after "discovering" him performing in a park somewhere.  The rest of the show consists of Elomire refusing to accept the foul Valere, who tries to prove himself worthy of being a part of the troupe.

And now I will perform for you!  Huzzah!

The biggest standout performance comes from Mark Rylance in his portrayal of the beastly "hero".  An over-the-top monstrosity, Rylance is actually ridiculous in this role, and audience members were left agape at how a man as putrid as this could possibly exist (much less in 17th century France).  Sadly, David Hyde Pierce is relegated to more of a foil as the incredulous troupe leader, but he does have one of the most powerful and meaningful speeches toward the end.  Anyone who enjoys the finer side of theater, but can also appreciate the lower end as well (see: burp  jokes), will have a good time at La Bête - just know what you're getting into by taking heed of the revealing title of the show - it's a beast.