TheatreWorks New Milford Presents ADRIFT IN MACAO, Now thru 3/23

Tonight, February 22, TheatreWorks New Milford will launch its 2013 Season with award-winning playwright Christopher Durang's musical comedy, ADRIFT IN MACAO, with book and lyrics by Durang and music by Peter Melnick. The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. for a five-weekend run.

ADRIFT IN MACAO is described as a hilarious musical spoof of classic film noir movies such as The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, and so many moody melodramas of the 1940s and '50s. Everyone who comes to Macao, China in 1952 is waiting for something, and though none of them knows exactly what that is, they hang around to find out. The characters include your film noir standards, like Laureena, the curvaceous blonde, who luckily bumps into Rick Shaw, the cynical surf-and-turf casino owner her first night in town. Then along comes Mitch, the American who has just been framed for murder by the mysterious villain "Mr. McGuffin." With songs and quips, puns and farcical shenanigans, this musical parody is bound to please audiences of all ages.

"Film noir is French for 'black film' and refers to those old, stylish black and white Hollywood crime dramas...but that's beside the point," said director, set designer, choreographer, and musical director Bradford Blake of Danbury. "By that I mean you don't have to know these films at all to enjoy this send-up. The script is loaded with hilariously silly jokes, stock characters the audience will recognize, and funny yet catchy music that would make anyone laugh."

"It's a wonderfully brainless comedy. One where you just check your worries at the door and bust a gut," said co-producer Glenn Couture of Ansonia. "If you have seen a Hitchcock film noir movie like Spellbound or Rebecca,that's all the better. But in this show, the jokes, slapstick, and music come so fast and furious that a theatergoer of any age is going to laugh a lot, whether they're familiar with the film noir genre or not."

The cast features seven of the area's finest actors: Shannon-Courtney Denihan and Tom Denihan (Woodbury), KC and Jonathan Ross (Thomaston), Vicki and Kevin Sosbe (New Milford), and Tom Libonate (Danbury).

Besides Blake and Couture, the show's crew consists of co-producer Richard Pettibone, who designed lights, sound, and projections with Scott Wyshynski. Costume design is by Renee Purdy, and stage management is being handled by Kathy Bolster and Tony Saracino, with Maya Daley assisting.

ADRIFT IN MACAO made its New York premiere on January 23, 2007 at Primary Stages and was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Best Music. Broadwayworld.com said of the show, "With a drop-dead funny book and shamefully silly lyrics by Christopher Durang and lethally catchy music by Peter Melnick, Adrift In Macao lovingly parodies the Hollywood film noir classics."

ADRIFT IN MACAO runs tonight, February 22,23 March 1,2 8,9,10 15,16 22,23. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee on March 10. Tickets for all shows are $28 for reserved seating.

On Thursday, February 21, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks' Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket.

Reservations can be made online at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, regional theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, Conn.

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