A
Comedy
by Neil Simon
Directed By David Middleton
May 16-25, 2008
Neil Simon's popularity as America's premier comic playwright and Tony
award winner continues today, even though it is a few years since he had
four shows simultaneously on Broadway. This particular show is just out
and out funny from start to finish.
Charlie Brock, the deputy New York City mayor and his wife Myra have
invited four couples to their townhouse on the evening of their 10th
wedding anniversary for a dinner party. The play opens with the arrival
of guests, Chris and Ken Gorman, who are horrified and scandalized to
find Charlie shot through the earlobe, Myra missing altogether and "the
help" gone as well.
As the three other couples filter in, bringing with them cases of
whiplash, car wreck trauma, back spasms, over the top "couple baby talk"
and posh indifference, Ken and Chris spend the first act making up
outrageous explanations for their hosts' absence, tripping about in a
hysterical effort to keep the other guests in the dark. The nonsense
mounts, and the stories get progressively more difficult to sustain.
Ken is deafened by a second gun shot; Chris gets
drunk; Glenn and Cassie Cooper fall apart at the seams after a fight
caused by flushing a ring down the toilet; Cookie and Ernie Cusack burn
and slice themselves trying to get dinner together in the kitchen; and
Claire and Lenny Ganz convince themselves and everyone else that the
whole thing was the result of an affair of Charlie's or Myra's or both
and that "the help" has run off to "somewhere in the Orient." The first
act closes in an explosion of door-slamming, running, dashing about,
shouting and flying dinner rolls.
With dust from the figurative and literal explosions settled, dinner
plates, glasses and purses scattered about the stage, bodies draped over
chairs and sofas, the second act begins. When two policemen arrive, the
guests are forced to offer up an explanation they do not have. Naturally
it all ends happily, with everything explained – it is a family comedy
after all.
Ø
"Light,
frothy and fun." N.Y. Post.
Ø
"Has
nothing on its mind except making the audience laugh." N.Y. Times.
Ø
"Neil
Simon makes people laugh a lot!" USA Today.
Ø
"Not only
side splitting, but front and back splitting." NBC TV.
SYNOPSIS
Scene: Sneden's
Landing, New York
Time: The recent past
ACT I
Eight-thirty at night
on an evening in May
Intermission
ACT II
One hour later
Produced under special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Cast of Characters (in order of appearance):
Ken
Gorman---------------------------------------------- Tom
Gannon
Claire Ganz-------------------------------------------
Mary Kay Cyrus
Lenny Ganz---------------------------------------------------
Bill Harber
Ernie Cusack------------------------------------------------Mark
Myers
Cookie Cusack------------------------------------------
Pamela Buha
Glenn
Cooper--------------------------------------------- Bowen Barrs
Cassie
Cooper----------------------------------------- Rachel Bryant
Officer
Welch---------------------------------------- Richard
Luckritz
Officer Pudney-----------------------------------------Rita Kitenplon
MEET THE CAST
(Alphabetic Order)
BARRS, BOWEN
(Glenn Cooper) Bowen has been in several shows at Francis Wilson. You
might have seen him in LaCage Aux Folles, Monky Business,
The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Thoroughly Modern Millie or
Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks. Bowen would like to thank the
actors, directors, stage crews, and behind the scenes staff who have
made life onstage so much fun! And his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to
his partner of 20 years, Jake, for putting up with his eccentric hobby!
BRYANT, RACHEL
(Cassie Cooper) Rachel moved here eight years ago from South Georgia.
She was in two productions at Theater Albany in Albany Georgia….Rumors
and The Oldest Living Graduate. This is her first production
with the Francis Wilson Playhouse and she is very excited! She lives
in delightful Dunedin with her fiancé, two dogs, and cat.
BUHA, PAMELA (Cookie
Cusack) Rumors is Pamela's debut performance at the Francis Wilson
Playhouse and her return to theater after a ten-year hiatus from acting.
Her stage credits include the musicals The Music Man, The
Sound of Music, and Quilt: A Musical Celebration; dramas
Eleemosynary, Talking With, and A Month of Sundays;
and comedies The Impossible Years and Once Upon a Time Take
Two. A lawyer by day, Pamela enjoys spending her free time with her
family.
CYRUS, MARY KAY (Claire Ganz) is thrilled to be working at FWP “The Second Time
Around”. This is also her second onstage marriage to Bill Harber (Moon
Over Buffalo, WCP). She recently directed A Bench in the Sun
for VET and is active with Carrollwood Players. Prior to moving to
Florida two years ago, Mary Kay was the Artistic and Managing Director
of Reflections Repertory Company in Richmond, Virginia. Thanks to David
and wonderful cast for making this show such a zany pleasure. And as
always, thanks to her husband, Ken, for all his love and support. God’s
blessings to all.
GANNON, TOM
(Ken Gorman) This is
Tom's first show at FWP. He is excited to be a member of this talented
ensemble cast. Tom recently moved here from Chicago where he did theatre
for the past ten years. When he is not acting Tom works in advertising.
HARBER, BILL
(Lenny Ganz)
Bill has enjoyed working in community theatre with West Coast Players
for the past 11 seasons and received a Lary Award for WCP’s Bus Stop
Bill enjoys working with such a talented group of thespians in Rumors,
and especially with David again, having done The Odd Couple – Female
Version at the beginning of this season. Bill has also worked at
P.A.G.E.S in Safety Harbor, Eight O’Clock Theatre in Largo, and Dunedin
Showcase Theatre. Bill performs daily at a local flooring store.
KITENPLON, RITA
(Officer Pudney)
Having just finished stage managing The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
and Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and appearing in season opener
The Odd Couple - Female Version, Rita is back on the stage at FWP
again. Rita has stage managed several shows at FWP including last year's
The Second Time Around. Her other credits both on the stage and
off include, Mr. Angel, Anna's Brooklyn Promise, The
Man Who Came to Dinner, and Auntie Mame. She is thrilled to
be working with such a wonderful and talented group and thanks her
husband Steve for his patience and understanding.
LUCKRITZ,
RICHARD
(Officer
Welch) is pleased to be back on stage at FWP. He last
appeared here in the ensemble of Francis Wilson - The Musical and
as Mayor Shinn in The Music Man. He
has also appeared in productions at EOT and SPLT. He thanks his wife
and family for their support, patience, and encouragement.
MYERS, MARK
(Ernie Cusack) studied theatre in Vermont and CW Post LIU in NY. Once
graduated he quickly toured with NY REP in productions of Oedipus,
Godspell, Pericles and Mad Dog Blues. Returning to
Vermont he toured Tounges, a one man show, with Lost Nation
Theatre. Soon after, Mark set up home here in Florida, where he has been
seen in Gypsy Productions The Eight and the US Premiere of Two
Spoons. With Gulfport Players he won a Cathy Award for his work in
Foxfire and enjoyed another Neil Simon performance in Come
Blow Your Horn. This is Mark’s first appearance at Francis Wilson.
WHITE, NONIE
(Chris Gorman)
Nonie White is an award winning actress who has worked extensively
in theatre, film and commercials for many years. She was last seen as
Ethel in Francis Wilson's production of On Golden Pond. A few of
her other favorite roles include, Driving Miss Daisy & A
Doll's House at Stage Agenda, Lion in Winter & Noises Off
at SPLT and as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire at
Eight O'Clock Theatre. She is also a professional acting coach and a
talented director, directing this year's FWP production of Six Dance
Lessons in Six Weeks. Nonie is honored to have this opportunity and
to work with such wonderful, talented people. Special thanks and love
to Kenny.
MEET THE DIRECTOR
DAVID MIDDLETON
- This is David's fourth appearance as director at Francis Wilson
Playhouse, having directed The Second Time Around, Monky
Business, and The Odd Couple – Female Version. He won LARY
Awards for his direction of Driving Miss Daisy (ICT) and 70
Girls 70 (SPLT). David also has been seen on stage here at FWP, at
St. Pete Little Theatre, West Coast Players, Oakhurst Theatre Company
and The Early Bird Dinner Theatre. He has directed for these local
theatres as well as for corporate shows and sales presentations. David
is semi-retired and thoroughly enjoys his active participation in
community theatre.
MEET THE STAGE MANGER
TREVOR
FIEGEL -
This is Trevor's first experience with Francis Wilson Playhouse. When
not in a theatre somewhere, Trevor spends his time at St. Petersburg
College as a full time student. He is very excited to be working with
Director David Middleton yet again. Enjoy the show.
