First Ever English Language Production of Bengt Ahlfors Comedy THE LAST CIGAR Announced

"Only tame birds feel longing. Wild birds fly." Thus muses Ragnar, a recently retired small-town school principal, as he looks back on the things he never did, and tries to sort out what's ahead in this charming and wonderfully humorous play, mixing comedy, farce, drama, and an element of surprise. Ragnar's vices are fine cigars and the occasional glass of whiskey. Which brings him into conflict with his wife Anneli, who is trying to get him to lead a healthy life. But is life without passion any kind of life at all? Mix in the widowed town pastor Lars (Ragnar's faithful old friend), along with Lars daughter Monika, who shows up at the door in the midst of a possible divorce, and passions once again permeate the household.

And what are we to make of the whips and handcuffs?

The European press has lauded the play, one of a long string of comedic successes on stage for the Finnish author. CRT's Artistic Director Bill Lelbach directs this production, along with designing the set. Julie Duro, CRT's long time Lighting Designer (NYC) will return to design for the production, as Will Barbara Kahl who handles the costume design duties.

"Normally, such sensitive topics as passion and affairs in old age don't have a place on stage. And yet they don't necessarily have to come off as embarrassing, indecent, or inappropriate, as proven by Finnish playwright Bengt Ahlfors in his wonderfully humorous play, The Last Cigar."

Westfalen-Blatt (Germany)

This dark comedy of the challenges of life after retirement shatters the stereotypes of "senior citizens," exposing with biting humor their passion, desires, and jealousies as no different from anyone else's. As Monika, herself engulfed in marital infidelities, asks of her elders when the truth is finally revealed: "So it never ends?" No, it never ends...and it can even get crazier.

The cast of 4 have all appeared previously at CRT. Jim Wicker (Ragnar), out of NC and Florida, has been on stage at least once each year since 2007. Brigitt Markusfeld (Anneli) previously appeared as Stella in Stella & Lou. Michael Arcesi (Lars) has been seen at CRT in Other Desert Cities, The Outgoing Tide, Of Mice and Men and more. Rounding out the cast is Traci Crouch who appeared in CRT's premiere of Last Gas just two years ago.

This production is Co-Produced by Pete & Karen Raymond and by Jim & Debbie Dyal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Last Cigar has enjoyed the same pattern of success as Ahlfors' other full-length plays, which have all had long runs in numerous productions throughout Scandinavia and Central Europe, most of them on national theatre stages. Bengt Ahlfors is one of Scandinavia's most well-known and successful playwrights and directors. Since 1963, he has written more than 30 plays, most of them hit comedies; and directed over 60 plays, classical and contemporary, including many of his own works. He is also known as a novelist, poet, screenwriter, composer, a writer of satirical short stories, and as the former Artistic Director of the Swedish Theatre of Helsinki. In 1986, Mr. Ahlfors wrote the world's first play dealing with the subject of heterosexual AIDS, Are There Tigers in the Congo?, which became an immediate success following its premiere at the renowned Little Theatre of Helsinki, one of the best-known theatres in Scandinavia, where it remained in the repertoire for more than 400 performances, and subsequently went on to be translated into 19 languages and performed throughout the world.

Chenango River Theatre's production runs July 6-29. Several performances are sold out - for the most current list of sold out dates, please check the website: www.chenangorivertheatre.org.

Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., plus Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.chenangorivertheatre.org, or by email: tickets@chenangorivertheatre.org. You can also make reservations 24 hours a day by voice mail at 607-656-8499. Individual tickets are $25 Thu/Fri/Sun and $27 on Sat. Tickets are half price for college students and those under 18. All performances start on time - late seating is not available.

Chenango River Theatre is just 15 minutes north of Binghamton at 991 State Highway 12, Greene, NY. Chenango River Theatre's 2018 season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

To post a comment, you must register and login.