Program Four of the Actors Alliance Festival is an interesting mix of local writers and the likes of Harold Pinter and Stephen Sondheim. Let's take a quick look at the five pieces.
Matt Thompson is a quadruple threat as playwright, producer, director, and talent in A Short History of Dating. The description says it all, "Will Cleopatra choose Bachelor #1 or . . .?" The cast includes Sunny Smith, Matt Warburton, Dallas McLaughlin, and Matt Thompson. Will her choice be Julius Caesar, a gruff conqueror who prefers a special salad dressing? Could she choose the virile Marc Anthony, the guy with two first names? On this pre- "Dating Game," pre-television production, her decision is crucial. Smith charmingly goes through the pain of making a choice between these two.
Heartquake, a Jeanne Becijos work, takes a serious look at the fragility of a marriage. Angie Engelbert directs Laura and Brett Cherland, a couple portraying a couple with the seven-month itch. The piece explores the conflict and confusion of a Kansas girl forced to live with her College Professor husband in California. Ah, the problems of young love.
Harold Pinter is represented by his One for the Road, produced and directed by Henia Belalia. Pinter is never been known to mince words, and he maintains his reputation for the vulgar. Each of the four characters, played by Michael Imdieke, Max Oilman-Williams, Rhonda Perks, and Eric Poppick, has a story. An interesting piece beloved by Pinter fans.
John Wooten's The Role of Della is produced by Shauna Ostrom and directed by Jason Maddy with Liz Sabicer, Shelly Breneman and Shauna Ostrom acting. Shauna is auditioning for a role in front of Liz, who puts her through audition hell, finally dismissing her with a guarantee that she's got the role. Alas, in walks Shelly, the real interviewer. Liz plays a very evil actress. Now I think it it's Shauna as the first interviewee and Shelly as the real interviewer. With identical twins, one never knows.
Six by Four by Sondheim pretty well says it all. Six Steven Sondheim songs by four talented singers, Kathy Herbruck, Gene Humphrey, Peg Humphrey and Elaine Litton, who delight us with fond musical memories. Produced by Peg Humphrey with Kathy Herbruck directing, we have a chance to explore Sondheim's take on whether to commit or not commit. A very nice way to end the evening.
