CHAPATTI Opens Peninsula Players 81st Season

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's theatrical icon, opened its 81st season June 14 with the Wisconsin premiere of "Chapatti" by Christian O'Reilly. Unexpected sparks fly when Betty, the caregiver to 19 cats, meets Dan and his dog Chapatti in a Dublin vet office. This funny, gentle and poignant story centers around two lonely animal lovers who rediscover, very unexpectedly, the need for caring and companionship. "Chapatti" will perform through July 3.

"I like to put two people in a room or on a bench and get them talking," said O'Reilly in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "I'm interested in seeing two characters spark off each other and struggle for control. I'm curious to see what conflict may reveal about them. My intention with 'Chapatti' was to show two people who seldom have the opportunity to communicate with others in a deep and intimate way, but who gradually discover a way to do this."

Pets such as dogs and cats provide companionship to lonely, secluded caregivers, but there is no real substitute for actual human connections. Dan, a former laborer, has trouble getting over the death of the woman he loved for 30 years. Homemaker Betty is a divorcee, neither have wandered far from home and both are getting on in years. Will romance bloom when Dan, who named his dog Chapatti after Indian flatbread, meets good-natured Betty, who collects cats to save them? Perhaps they will save each other.

The cast includes Greg Vinkler, the Peninsula Players Artistic Director, as Dan and making her Peninsula Players debut is Penny Slusher as Betty. Vinkler has performed in more than 40 productions at Peninsula Players, including "Butler," "A Real Lulu," "Heroes" and "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure." He was honored with the inaugural Door County Artist of the Year Award and made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of "West Side Story."

Slusher's regional credits include Asolo Repertory Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre and Writers Theatre. Slusher originated the role of Betty in "Chapatti's" world and international premieres and performed "August: Osage County" with Steppenwolf Theatre at Sydney Theatre, Australia.

O'Reilly started writing the story as a movie script, then a radio play, but found the format of a monologue suited the tale of older people best. "It's a play about two lonely people, and the monologue seems to me like a lonesome sort of form - one person, on their own, telling their story," O'Reilly said.

"Chapatti" made its world premiere at Northlight Theater in Skokie, Illinois, in March of 2014 featuring John Mahoney, of television's "Fraiser." While Mahoney was in Galway, Ireland performing, O'Reilly slipped the script under the dressing room door. Mahoney said he initially had no intention of reading it, but while on a long trans-Atlantic flight he had nothing else to read.

O'Reilly's other works include the plays "The Good Father" and "The Tiger in Winter," which was produced by Druid Theatre company for the 25th Galway Arts Festival in 2002. His credits also include two short films, "The Birthday" and "The Kiss of Life;" a radio play, "The Play;" and a feature film, "Inside I'm Dancing," which won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2004, two Irish Film and Television Awards, and the AIB People's Choice Award for Best Irish Film.

"'Chapatti' speaks to everyone, but especially to the heartache and seclusion often felt by older men and women. Smiles, laughter and a few tears may be shed, but audiences will never forget the beauty and poignance of this tender story." Chicago Theater Review.

Tom Mula, who directed the world première of Paul Slade Smith's "A Real Lulu" and Sean Grennan's "The Tin Woman," directs the season opener. Mula celebrates his 22nd season with the Players where he has performed in many plays including "And Then There Were None," "Opus" and "Chicago" and has directed "Making God Laugh," "Amadeus," and "The Lion in Winter." Vinkler and Slusher are recipients of After Dark Awards and all three Peninsula Player company members are recipients of Chicago theater's prestigious Joseph Jefferson Awards.

The design team is comprised of regional award-winning designers and members of United Scenic Artists including scenic designer Sarah E. Ross ("The Tin Woman," "The Nerd"); sound designer Cecil Averett ("Lombardi," "Around the World in 80 Days") and costume designer Kärin Simonson Kopishcke ("Outside Mullingar," "Chicago"). Rounding out the team is Jeff Award-nominated lighting designer Stephen R. White ("Making God Laugh," Nunsense") and properties designer Kristen Nuhn makes her Peninsula Players design debut.

The Peninsula Players perform "Chapatti" Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. except Sunday July 3 at 4 p.m. Individual ticket prices range from $37 to $43 with discounts for season tickets and groups of 15 or more. There are no performances on Mondays. For more information or to reserve tickets phone the Peninsula Players Box Office at 920-868-3287 or visit the website at www.peninsulaplayers.com.

Pictured: Penny Slusher and Greg Vinkler. Photo Credit: Len Villano

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