FIRST LOOK: Kentwood Players opens OLIVE AND THE BITTER HERBS by Charles Busch 7/8/16

Kentwood Players presents the comedy "Olive and the Bitter Herbs" by Charles Busch opening Friday, July 8 through Saturday, August 13, 2016 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Kirk Larson and produced by Lori A. Marple-Pereslete by special arrangement with Samuel French.

Featured in the cast are Gail Bernardi, Martin Feldman, Daniel Kruger, Ken MacFarlane and Alison Mattiza. Publicity photos by Shari Barrett offer you a first look at all the characters in the play.

"Olive and the Bitter Herbs" centers on the life of Olive Fisher, an elderly character actress whose claim to fame was her iconic "Gimme the Sausage" commercials of the 1980s. She is a classic New York curmudgeon at war with the world, in particular her gay next door neighbors.

Her closed-off life is shaken by the appearance of a spectral male figure viewed through her living room mirror. This appearance, along with the help of the father of the co-op's board president and Olive's only "friend," brings together the feuding neighbors for a comedic Passover Seder. A series of strange and outrageous coincidences reveals that the man in the mirror has intimate links to everyone in Olive's world, encouraging her that it's never too late to change one's life and perhaps find love.

Tickets are $20.00 with a $2.00 discount for seniors and students. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 4:00-7:00pm. You may also purchase tickets online at www.kentwoodplayers.org. For group ticket sales of 10 or more, please call the box office for group rates.

For more information about Kentwood Players including our current production and upcoming auditions, please visit the Kentwood Players website at www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook and Twitter.

To meet the "Olive and the Bitter Herbs" production team and learn more about Kentwood Players and what goes on at the Westchester Playhouse, the public is invited to attend our membership meetings, which are free and held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located two blocks west of the San Diego Freeway and two blocks north of Manchester at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045.

Photos by Shari Barrett

Olive decides to bring her feuding neighbors together for a comedic Passover Seder, but Sylvan has something else on his mind. (clockwise from left) Martin Feldman, Daniel Kruger, Gail Bernardi, Ken MacFarlane and Alison Mattiza.

Olive Fisher (Gail Bernardi) is an elderly character actress whose claim to fame was her iconic "Gimme the Sausage" commercials of the 1980s.

Robert and Trey love stinky cheese which Olive finds totally disgusting. (from left) Ken MacFarlane, Daniel Kruger and Gail Bernardi.

Olive seems to always be at odds with her neighbor Wendy, the only person in the building who seems to care about her. (from left) Alison Mattiza and Gail Bernardi.

Sylvan encourages Olive to take a look in the mirror at her life. (from left): Gail Bernardi and Martin Feldman.

Olive teaches Robert about the meaning of the items on a Passover Seder plate. (from left): Ken MacFarlane and Gail Bernardi.

Olive (Gail Bernardi) decides to bring her feuding neighbors together for a comedic Passover Seder.

Wendy and Olive discover a lost family heirloom. (form left): Alison Mattiza and Gail Bernardi.

Olive is thoroughly surprised when Sylvan expresses his feelings for her. (from left): Gail Bernardi and Martin Feldman.

Trey and Olive can't seem to get along about anything. (from left): Daniel Kruger and Gail Bernardi.