Cortland Repertory Theatre's second production of the 2010 summer hit the ground running as they presented "the funniest farce ever written" according to the British Theatre Guide: "See How They Run" by Phillip King. First produced in London in 1943, when wartime evening blackouts were the routine, the West End theatres defiantly stayed lit to show this and other similar hysterical plays and farces. In fact, during one performance, three bombs went off far above the theatre, but not a single person left. The only reaction was one of the actors complaining that the sounds of the bombs drowned out his best laugh lines!
Performances of CRT's "See How They Run" will literally ‘run' from June 23rd - July 2nd with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on June 25th, 27th and 30th at 2:00 PM. The show will close one evening earlier than usual, on Friday July 2nd, to accommodate the annual July 3rd holiday in Dwyer Park. Consequently, a performance has been added on Sunday night, July 27th at 7:30. Tickets may be purchase by calling 800-427-6160 or at the CRT Box Office at 37 Franklin Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at
www.cortlandrep.org.
The story takes place in the vicarage of the sleepy village of Merton-cum-Middlewick where a new addition to the community - Penelope Toop, a former American actress and the new wife of the local vicar - riles the church ladies because she is seen wearing pants in public. When Penelope is visited by a former acting partner and current American soldier, Corporal Clive Winton, the pair plans to relive their
Glory Days on stage by sneaking out to see a local production of "Private Lives". Since the theatre is out-of-bounds for troops, and since the vicar is away for the evening, Clive slips on the vicar's "second best suit", and off they go. This begins a night of confusion and mistaken identity when soon, no less than five vicars (though not all genuine) are joined by a cockney maid, an escaped Russian prisoner, and a tipsy church prude tasting alcohol for the first time, all running in and out of the numerous doors of the vicarage, trying to either catch or avoid each other.
"I've always loved farces, and over the years CRT has built a reputation for producing solid productions of this brand of comedy" says CRT Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson who also directs this production. "The most challenging part for a director of a farce is casting, and we have put together an incredibly talented cast. They make my job easy!" Thompson previously directed last summer's SALT Award nominated "Unnecessary Farce" as well as "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" at CRT.
Returning actors to CRT include
Dustin Charles, who was nominated for a SALT Award for his performance in "Unnecessary Farce" and has been seen in six other CRT plays, including "Bedroom Farce" and "How the Other Half Loves".
Michael Schaefer, who's CRT credits include "Moonlight and Magnolias", "It Runs in the Family" and "Sylvia" plays the pompous Bishop of Lax. Also returning from last year's farce are
Mark Bader as the befuddled Reverend Humphrey and
Joshua Murphy as the dangerous Russian intruder.
Rebecca McGraw, seen in last year's "Damn Yankees" plays the church lady Miss Skillon, and
Gerard Pauwels, fresh from "Spider's Web" plays Army Sergeant Towers who has the difficult task of sorting out vicars.
Making her CRT debut as the "indiscrete" Penelope is
De Anne Dubin, who is joined by British actor
Richard Hollis as the Reverend Lionel Toop. CRT performing intern and recent graduate from Elon University
Annie Duckett plays Ida, the fresh mouthed maid.
Stage Manager Eric Behnke is in his fourth summer at CRT, and Scenic Designer Carl Tallent is in his fifth. Wendi Zea checks off her 16th CRT costume design.
Rachel Budin handles lighting design with Marthe Hoffman on Properties and Dave Huber on Sound. Zarin Barnes continues as 2010 Technical Director as does
Kate Wilson as Assistant Stage Manager.
CRT continues the tradition of "Friday Night Talk Backs" at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew take place after every Friday evening performance. Tickets are on sale for all of CRT's summer season, including the upcoming "The Pajama Game", "Brigadoon", "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks", "The Andrews Brothers" and the children's show "The Jungle Book".
