Cortland Repertory Theatre will serve up "arresting" laughs with the New York State professional premiere of the cop comedy "Unnecessary Farce" by Paul Slade Smith, which runs from July 22 - August 1. Smith, who is also an actor currently on national tour with the Broadway musical "Wicked", was named one of "50 to Watch - writers of exceptional merit and promise" by The Dramatist Magazine. Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson, who will also direct this production, notes that it is always exciting to bring a new show to the area. "I was first introduced to this play by our mutual friend, Brian Runbeck, an actor at CRT who will be starring in ‘Gross Indecency' later in the season," he says. "'Unnecessary Farce' is such a well written comedy that I knew we had to do it. Finding a new farce is a challenge, so we jumped on this one when we had the chance!" Thompson previously directed CRT's top selling production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" last summer, and other comedies such as "Greater Tuna" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".
This comedy takes place in two adjoining rooms in a cheap hotel in a small U.S. city. An embezzling major is supposed to meet with his female accountant, while in the room next-door, two undercover, and rather incompetent, police officers wait to catch the meeting on videotape. The mayor's bodyguard, who's actually afraid of his own shadow, tries to protect the mayor and unknowingly spills the beans on a more complicated plot. By the time the mayor's wife walks in, there's some confusion as to who's in which room, who's being videotaped, who's taken the money, who's hired a Scottish, bagpipe-playing hit man, and why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes. "I actually consider it a ‘smart farce'" Thompson says. "Everything that happens makes logical sense, but in the heightened reality of a comedy like this, the pace and timing makes the situations hysterical."
"I'm also very excited because we have the cream of the crop in actors!" Thompson says. The two cops are played by Dustin Charles, who was most recently seen as Andrew Rally in "I Hate Hamlet" and Crystal Rona Peterson, who played Azuli the Goddess of Love in "Once on This Island" earlier this summer. Playing the accountant is
Morgan Reis who was nominated for a SALT Award for her performance in CRT's "Leading Ladies" last summer. Rejoining his "...Ladies" costar is Mark Bader who will play Mayor Meekly, with Mrs. Meekly played by Erica Livingston who is currently starring as Meg in "Damn Yankees". New actors to CRT are Joshua Murphy who plays the Scottish assassin Todd, and Justin Theo Klose as the bodyguard Agent Frank.
Corrine Grover, who is a frequent actress at CRT, will serve as Assistant Director for the production, as she did for last year's "The Mousetrap" and this year's children's show "A Bagful of Fables". The challenging scenic design of the adjoining hotel rooms, with a total of 8 doors, is handled by CRT alum Carl Tallent, who previously designed CRT's "The Mousetrap" and "Fiddler on the Roof". Costume designs are by Wendi Zea, who most recently designed this summer's "Damn Yankees", and lighting design is by newcomer Kathryn Furst. Sound and props designs are by season designers David Huber and Justin Peters, respectively. The stage manager for the production is Kris Valentine.
"Unnecessary Farce" will be presented at the
Edward Jones Playhouse, CRT's home in Dwyer Memorial Park. Season Benefactor McNeil and Company is joined for this production by show sponsor Pall Cortland and show partners J.R. Clancy and Walmart. Parking is free, and the theatre is handicapped accessible and air conditioned. Tickets may be purchased at the CRT Box Office at 37 Franklin Street in Cortland, by calling 800-427-6160 or online at www.cortlandrep.org. For more information about any of CRT's shows or programming, please visit
www.cortlandrep.org.
