Playhouse on the Green, a 54-year-old not-for-profit theater company in residence at a beautiful 228-seat jewel-box theater in the heart of downtown Bridgeport, CT, kicks off their 2008-2009 season of plays and musicals with Steve Martin's wacky adaptation of Carl Sternheim's 1911 comedy "The Underpants." This hilarious send-up of repressed society and scandalous fashion faux pas runs for 8 performances only September 26-October 5, 2008.
Famous funnyman
Steve Martin has "uncovered" a little-known turn-of-the-century German fashion farce that pre-dates
Janet Jackson and
Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl half-time hi-jinks by 93 years. Uptight government clerk Theo Maske firmly believes his inconspicuous life and career have met their end when his lovely wife Louise's unmentionables make an unintended public appearance. The loose lingerie draws the attention of a nosy neighbor, a pretentious poet, a nebbish barber, and an aging scientist…and shy little Louise gets an eye-opening crash-course in how to get what she wants!
Called "hilarious and bawdy" by The Village Voice, "The Underpants" features rapid-fire wit, farcical situations, double entendres, and of course a good deal of
Steve Martin's trademark wackiness! As New York's Daily News proclaimed, "Not since Monica Lewinsky's thong almost toppled a presidency has a pair of panties caused such a national fuss!"
Steve Martin, best know for his hit movies "The Jerk," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Father of the Bride," "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" and "The Pink Panther," also is an accomplished writer and playwright, having won accolades and awards for "Picasso at the Lapin Agile." German playwright Carl Sternheim (1867-1942) worked with Max Reinhardt,
Frank Wedekind, and Franz Kafka before the Nazi authorities banned his work because of his savage comic assaults on the perceived moral corruption of the German bourgeoisie. His series of comedies included "Die Hose" (The Underpants).
Matt Schicker, Producing Artistic Director for Playhouse on the Green, directs a cast of 6 area actors: Nick Assunto of Milford; Lucy Babbitt of Stratford; Kevin Green of Milford; Elizabeth May of Hastings; John Pyron of Fairfield; and
David Thomas of Bridgeport.
Suzanne Kachmar is Associate Producer; Brandy Devoid is Set Designer; Michael Jarett is Lighting Designer; Meredith Neal is Costume Designer; Jim DeVivo is Sound Designer; Jennifer Samath is Production Stage Manager; Caroline Card is Assistant Stage Manager; Martha Kemp is Wardrobe Assistant; Sasha Mastro is Technical Director; Donald Rowe is Light Board Operator. Marketing by graygraham.
Adult single tickets are $27. Senior Citizens tickets (65 and older) are $25. Student tickets (21 years and younger) are $15. Playhouse Passes get you into the entire season of shows at a 15% discount off the full price - adult passes are $146 for all 6 shows, and 3-show passes which include 2 plays and 1 musical are available for $77 (a 10% discount off the full ticket price).
Tickets can be purchased 24/7 on-line at www.playhouseonthegreen.org or by calling TheaterMania at (866) 811-4111 (phone hours 9-9 weekdays, 10-6 weekends).
Playhouse on the Green is located at 177 State Street between Main Street and Markle Court in downtown Bridgeport. Free, secure parking one block from the theater is available. For more information visit www.playhouseonthegreen.org or call 203-333-3666.
The 2008-2009 season continues with:
Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show," which runs performances October 24-November 8, 2008; "The Santaland Diaries" and "Season's Greetings" by David Sedaris, which runs performances December 5-21, 2008; "Twelve Angry Jurors" by
Reginald Rose, which runs February 6-22, 2009; the Connecticut Premiere of "Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams" by
Terrence McNally, which runs March 13-29, 2009; and "The Wiz" by
Charlie Smalls and
William F. Brown, which runs April 24-May 10, 2009. Complete schedule of all performances, exact dates and times, can be viewed at
www.playhouseonthegreen.org.
