SARASOTA — The Players, the state’s second oldest community theater, in its 95th year, may be performing in rented quarters for a while, but the shows, summer camp and more go on.
So does its annual New Play Festival.
Last week, the five finalists were presented in readings in a former Tommy Bahama store at the Crossings, right next to Connors Steakhouse but within the mall.
Although with far fewer seats than it had in the old 700-seat venue on North Tamiami Trail, not only will the 95th season begin soon but the Players classes, summer camp and programs such as the new play festival go on.
There was a whole new look to the rented space — new lobby set-up, fresh paint and draperies all the way back to the restrooms.
This is all more proof that this theater, founded in 1929 on the eve of the Great Depression, may not have a permanent home but, it has a heartbeat and plenty of heart.
Monday, July 8 — Life is Small
On stage at 7:30 p.m. was the 90-minute production of “Life is Small” by Douglas Gearhart, who has been a finalist in the past. The longtime (30 years) manager of Broadway’s Shubert Theatre also has had five “Off Off Broadway” productions to his name.
This year, Gearhart’s story concerned a young man named “Jedi” (Tom Horton) coming home to visit “Sonny,” (Joshua Brin) his father, after many years.
Jedi parks his car within view of the family home but also on the edge of the park where he played as a young man and where a plumber named Glen (Leo Dominique)and his wife are celebrating their daughter’s 13th birthday.
Glen has called the police because he believes Jedi was doing something inappropriate in his truck. Perhaps Glen wants to be a hero to his wife and daughter.
Instead, he could be arrested himself for filing what may be a false claim — or not? That Sonny has lost his beloved dog of many years and is being hounded by animal control to renew the dog’s rabies vaccination proof adds yet another layer to this story.
The female police officer called to sort things out is busy prepping for a department exam. She is not anxious to deal with this.
With just two rehearsals under their belts and reading from scripts, each and every actor used spot-on facial and other expressions to enhance the story of three characters dealing with a strange, yet realistic scenario.
Kudos to director Tim Spadlin of Bradenton who has years of experience from Indianapolis as actor and director and more recently at Manatee Players.
Tuesday, July 9 — Yumee and Jack
The reader, Michelle Gillespie, describes the scene — an adult care facility with resident Jack McGraf, whose life has been all might have been. He is loaded with guilt.
A facility administrator, Yumee Fishkin, is working temporarily with the residents. She is over-qualified to deal with this task and this man, yet there will be some ties that bind, or not.
“I’m living in time as an illusion,” Jack says amid the chaos of his messy room. “I don’t need to clean up.”
Yet he has lived his life for good and/or not so good. Yumee, on the other hand, has existed in an orderly fashion with everything in it own compartment.
Again, a reading with few rehearsals, yet, as on Monday, the actors eyes and facial expressions as they read their lines added volumes as the story moves to an end that has to be, or not.
Also in this work is Richard Lambert as Brunetti, a cop who owns a non-Harley cycle (perhaps he is not as tough as he would want people to think).
Meredith Templeton portrays Joyce, Jack’s wife, whose family money pays for him to be in this upscale place. Her rare but evidently final visit may be the end of this story, or not.
Wednesday, July 10 — Happy Endings Wedding Chapel
Las Vegas wedding chapels may be as famous as its casinos and hotels. Kathie (Jamie Saunders), daughter of chapel owners Marie (Valerie DiLorenzo) and her partner Harry (Austin Howeth), seems to do the most to operate the chapel.
Kathy’s ex-husband Paolo (David Stein) is the chapel’s officiant.
That all these various relationships are strange (even for Vegas) is a good starting point for a story that will become even more interesting with the arrival of Andreas (Kelly Leissler), a British barrister in need of some paperwork for a couple in the throes of divorce.
Could something develop between Kathy and Andreas? Is something still going on between Kathy and Paolo? That Marie seems anxious to pair off Kathy and Andreas adds another log to this fire, which was created by Hannah Mitchell and directed by Aliana Tyler-Lohr.
In the talk-back, Mitchell said she began the story with the ending. Many fine works likely begin the same way. While this is one of five finalists of some 30 entries in this year’s contest, this one could use some trimming.
The premise is excellent and casting was fine with Saunders as the lead, the night after playing a major role in the previous night’s Yumee and Jack. She sparkles with a most expressive face.
Leissler is an excellent actor, as well. It was fun to see the interplay between these two and also with the rest of a very strong cast with fine direction
Three plays down and two more to go to find the winner, which will be produced next fall at the Players 2025 New Play Festival.
Thursday, July 11 — Life Corp.
Thursday’s offering, a 20-minute courtroom science fiction tale set in the future, was a break from the two-act theme of this finals week.
The play’s story proved its entree into the finals and also garnered the most questions and answers after the presentation.
Play writer Jenna Lane’s story concerned a woman, Monica (Aleah Colon-alfonso), who could no longer afford to keep her two-month old child who was conceived in a bionic womb.
The womb manufacturer was demanding the child in payment of the debt. The child would become a forced laborer for the corporation.
The woman’s attorney had allowed just five minutes for the trial because all previous cases seemed to have always been settled quickly and for the corporation.
Peg Harvey served as corporate lawyer Crane with Hannah Hockman as a bored bailiff, Suzanne Williams as Judge Dinah Cato and Liz Bates as the reader.
When the mother offers to join the child in servitude to the corporation, it seems there was a chance for something other than the usual outcome.
While cell phones have yet to be planted in our arms, in this play, a “tactile interface” seemed part of everyone’s arm, although there no longer was much demand for real kidneys.
Whether this play wins a chance at production as the winning work, it did get a variety of reactions for some time after it was over. Kudos to cast and director.
Friday, July 12 — Man 2 Man
Heavy rain outside the Players’ current location in Sarasota seemed somehow balanced by the serious story of a share-cropping father and a man named Sumpter (Michael Kinsey) and his son JD (Zion Thompson).
In “Man 2 Man,” owner of the land is Mary, played by Peg Harvey, who also was in the previous night’s production. Managing the work on her land was Jason (Brandon Coldicott), who seemed to think his white skin was all he needed to merit half the proceeds for far less work on half of the homesteaded land.
Consider that he chose his half for its shade to keep him cool, rather than the sun that would nourish the crops.
“Your side don’t look bad like mine,” Jason said to the black man.
Times are changing. World War II is underway and young JD wants to enlist in the Marines to fight. That his name is just two initials does not satisfy the white Marine recruiter (Alex Longfield).
JD must “correct” that and even the spelling of his last name.
And ne’er-do-well Jason better do right for Mary, who doesn’t understand that overworking the land is hurting its yield.
The war to end all wars has done nothing for race relations in the south where JD’s family will end up having to leave the land by dead of night or lose everything to Mary before trying to start again.
Adding her lovely voice and perhaps some love interest is Syreeta Shontee, with Tope Oni as Tom and Frank, others needed to advance the story, which includes visits by “the Klan” in their white robes.
Ariel Blue directed. Also an actress and singer, she has performed at Westcoast Black Theatre, Venice Theatre and elsewhere.
Five nights, five productions selected from 31 entries. Four two-act plays and one one-act.
Overseeing the competition are Amanda Heisey and Jalex Scott of The Players.
The selection would not be that Friday night but in the coming days. The winner will receive a full production in the fall before the 2025 New Play Festival.
Watch for the result in this newspaper or visit theplayers.org. Go there, too, for tickets to the coming season or call 941-365-2494.
Main stage productions and classes are being held at 3501 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota in a former Tommy Bahama store, next to Connors Steakhouse. To see the transformation to this intimate theatre space and to view the memorabilia from this theater company’s 95-year history is yet another reason to purchase tickets.
The Players, founded in 1929, is the state’s second oldest community theater.
Most Popular
Comments / 0