Feature: ROMANCE, ROMANCE at Oyster Mill Playhouse

A Spotlight On Alexis And Paul Neel

Written by guest author Stephanie A. Trdenic

The title of Oyster Mill Playhouse's next production, Romance/Romance, is reflected in one of its two featured couples, real-life spouses Alexis and Paul Neel. In the musical's second act, the two portray Monica and Sam, long-time best friends who discover a growing romantic attraction, despite each being married to another.

Alexis Neel may be a familiar face to Oyster Mill audiences, having appeared in two musicals last season: Curtains and The Bridges of Madison County. In contrast, this is Paul's first experience on our stage, although he appeared in shows in high school and at his alma mater, Casper College, in Wyoming. It was there he received a degree in music education, with concentrations in classical, operatic, and jazz music. Alexis, like many of OMP's performers, studied a non-theatre-related field, receiving a degree in psychology from Penn State Altoona.

Appropriately enough, it was a love of singing that brought the couple together. They met during a weekly karaoke contest at a local bar. Paul says, "I was singing one of my staples - 'Sweet Caroline' - and she was singing along, heckling me."

Alexis laughs and corrects him, "I was doing the call-backs," (i.e., adding a colorful phrase during the chorus, which we'll leave to your imagination.)

Towards the end of the evening, Alexis still had a song she wanted to sing, so she stayed behind as her friends headed home. She and Paul ended up sitting together as the next patron started singing the Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun." Alexis began singing along.

She says, "He looked at me, surprised, and said, 'You must be over 25 if you know that song!'"

He was even more amazed when Alexis began singing along to another Violent Femmes' song. That's when an apparently awestruck Paul said, "Marry me."

Their actual relationship began a few weeks later, when they saw each other at the same karaoke night. This time Paul had brought a date - who ditched him after about ten minutes to go on another date, he recalls. Alexis spotted him, they started talking Violent Femmes, and exchanged numbers - even though Paul had completely forgotten his "marriage proposal." That was nine years ago, and they've been married now for six.

The Neels appear mostly in the background of Act One of the musical, but they are the 'best friends' who are the focus of Act Two. Their characters each are married to other characters (Stephen F. J. Martin and Nina Cline) and their friendship has always been platonic.

"The best friend part is really fun," Alexis says. "We get to act as ridiculous as we do at home, but onstage." "And the affection is real, too," Paul adds, referring to the potential romance that starts to develop between them. "We don't have to work on creating chemistry."

Paul says that having Alexis beside him makes him feel more confident in a theatre that is new to him. "She's been here, and she knows the people. I haven't been onstage in 20 years, so that makes it easier for me."

He adds, "After nine years together, there's little 'mystery' anymore between us. So, with this new experience, I'm finding new things to appreciate about her."

Alexis enjoys being able to spend more time with her husband than she normally does when doing a show on her own. "In other shows, it's been five nights a week I'm not at home. It's great getting to do something so much fun and do it together."

When describing Paul as an actor, she says emphatically, "He is fearless." As an example, Alexis explains, "When I'm first learning a song, I tend not to sing as loud. Paul sings loud, and tells me, 'I don't care. If I'm wrong, they'll tell me.' And he's very focused and professional." Paul admires the way Alexis "makes the character her own." He continues, "I'll hear some of Alexis's line deliveries, and think, 'That sounds like her.' She can find ways to incorporate herself into the character."

The couple say they are both enjoying working here at OMP. "The whole cast and crew are fun to work with. We have lots of freedom to try things out," Alexis says.

Paul appreciates the atmosphere he's found here: "At other theatres in the past, there was always a sense of people who 'belonged' there. It wasn't welcoming. If you were new, you were treated as though you weren't a 'member of the club.'"

Oyster Mill Playhouse is the first local theatre Paul has performed in, and he says, "The people here are welcoming and friendly. I'm hoping to do more things here in the future."

The Oyster Mill Playhouse will present ROMANCE, ROMANCE March 8-24, 2019. Curtain is at 8PM for all Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows, and 2PM for Sunday matinees. Tickets are $25. Visit www.oystermill.com or choose "Get Tickets" on Facebook to order tickets online.

Directed by Kristen Borgersen

ROMANCE, ROMANCE is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Oyster Mill Playhouse is a volunteer-driven, non-profit community theatre located at 1001 Oyster Mill Road in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Visit our website, www.oystermill.com, to purchase tickets and learn about advertising and donation opportunities.

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