by Matt Zwyer, Waterville Playshop PR Trustee
Waterville Playshop is back and turning on the lights—literally, in its next show.
Join Playshop for a comedy that is about coming out of the dark. Art imitates life a bit as we invite you to join in the fun of the play, “Black Comedy,” June 24-27, 2021! This show is full of bits and gags designed to make you giggle, and don’t we all need that right now?
In this hilarious British one-act written by Peter Shaffer, the action supposedly in the dark is illuminated; and when the lights are on, the stage is dark. There are many confusing moments for the actors, as they are in an electrical blackout so that the audience gets to see what the characters supposedly can’t. Lovesick and desperate, sculptor Brindsley Miller has embellished his apartment with furniture and artistic objects “borrowed” from his traveling neighbor and antique collector next door because he hopes to impress his fiancé’s pompous father and a visiting wealthy art dealer. That fussy neighbor, Harold Gorringe, returns just as a blown fuse plunges the apartment into darkness. And Brindsley is revealed teetering on the verge of a very ripe farce. Unexpected guests, aging spinsters, errant phone cords, and other snares get in the way of his frantic attempts to return those temporarily stolen items before the light is restored. How can this show not be funny!?
Director Tammy Fitch is assisted by Diana Waugh. The talented cast includes (in chronological order) Brad King, Abby Fitch, Linda and Elden Lee, Durrell Johnson, Dan Kwiatkowski, and Teresa Doran; with special appearance by Sam Macera.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 24 through 26, at 8 pm, and Sunday, June 27 at 2:30, at the Maumee Indoor Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at www.watervilleplayshop.org. All tickets are $15. They will also be available at the door.
BLACK COMEDY is produced with special permission from Concord Theatricals, New York, NY.
