'Mother's Gift' Debuts at Key West's Waterfront Playhouse

THE KEY WEST PLAYERS, INC./WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE
  Mother's Gift, by Monnie King
  Runs: April 7 to April 15th at 8:30pm
  
              The Key West Players continue their smash-hit 66th season
at the Waterfront Playhouse with Mother's Gift, an exciting new play by
local playwright, Monnie King. Mother's Gift will be directed by George
Gugleotti and will feature Claire Carroll, Jennifer Cohen and Peter
King. The opening night will be Friday, April 7 with a courtyard reception
afterwards. Performances continue through April 15th (no show on
Monday, the 10th) with all performances at 8:30 pm. There will be a post-show
talk back session with the cast, director and playwright on Thursday,
April 13th.  All tickets on Sunday, April 9 will be 2 for 1 pricing.
              A public reading of Ms. King's play was held at the
Waterfront Playhouse in May of 2005, and the response was so overwhelming
that Mother's Gift was added to the current season schedule. Since that
time, several major theatres in South Florida and elsewhere have
expressed interest in this ripped-from-the-headlines play; however, this
production will mark the debut of the poignant, funny and shocking play.
Supporting local playwrights is a key part of the Player's mission
statement.
              Mother's Gift is the story of three raucous siblings who
gather in their family home for their mother's birthday. Over games of
Scrabble, they discuss what must be done with their ailing mother.
Their heated, often funny debates bring up old resentments and new
accusations as the three struggle with what might be the best course of action.
They each feel that they have the answer, but as their mother's
situation declines, they are forced to confront assumptions about themselves
and their own beliefs. By facing these issues each of them finds new
insights into their own lives.
              Playwright Monnie King lives in Key West, Ft. Lauderdale
and London. She received her M.A. in Classical Acting from the Central
School of Speech and Drama in   London. She garnered high acclaim for her performance in last year's production of Equus at the Waterfront Playhouse, playing Dora Strang.
Other acting credits include All My Sons, Twelfth Night, White Devil
(all in London) and Children Of A Lesser God and Reality TV in Miami.            
              Director George Gugleotti has been involved with all of
the Key West theatres, but has a long history of dedication with The
Waterfront Playhouse. He has served as board president and is currently on
the executive board of The Key West Players. At the Waterfront, he has
directed A Streetcar Named Desire and A Tuna Christmas, and as an actor
he has recently appeared in The Miser and Dealer's Choice (The
Waterfront), Molly Sweeney (The Barn) and Amadeus (Founders at TWT).  
              Claire Carroll will play the self-assured and caustic
Suzanne who aspires to be a writer. Claire made a splash as Lettice
Douffet in the Waterfront's production of Lettice and Lovage, garnering rave
reviews. She received a theatre degree from Drama Studio London and has
acted in tv, film and theatre. Credits include Ray Cooney's Caught In
The Net, Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions, Twelfth Night, the Wicked
Stepmother in Cinderella and many other leading roles.
              Jennifer Cohen plays Jenny, the former beauty queen, who
clings to her former glory days. Jennifer has appeared in many local
productions including last season's Pippin  and Equus. At the Waterfront,
she's also appeared in The Maiden's Prayer, Popcorn, The Sunshine Boys,
Stop Kiss, Spike Heels and Lemon Cookie. For the Founders, she's been
seen in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Amadeus and
Don't Dress For Dinner. Along with her husband, Larry Cohen, she runs Snuba
of Key West and works in local radio and television.
              Peter King  plays Tom, the eldest child, viewing all
events with a sense of responsibility and duty. Peter was seen in The
Waterfront's production of Black Comedy and last year's The Secret Life of
Sherlock Holmes, at The Red Barn. Other credits include Andrew Wyke in
Sleuth performed in London and at the Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key
West; On Golden Pond, Other People's Money, and Reality TV in Miami. He
recently appeared in the smash hit, Orson's Shadow also in Miami. He is
a graduate of The London Academy of Performing Arts.
                          For tickets to this engaging, touching and
timely play, call the Waterfront box office at 294-5015 or purchase
tickets on-line at http://www.waterfrontplayhouse.com. Performances are at
8:30 pm and are $30, all fees included. Opening night tickets are $35
and include the post-performance reception, catered by Great Events, in
the courtyard in front of the theatre. Call the box office for their locals' special prices! 

FALL IN LOVE TODAY!  ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER