Starlite Players explore “Love, Actually” with short comedies that find laughter in love
Four new plays run October 20-21-22-23 in the Starlite Room
SARASOTA, FL: Starlite Players presents “Love, Actually,” a collection of four short comedies that find laughter in love at first sight, second sight, hindsight, and out of sight. The new plays will be staged on Thursday through Saturday, October 20-21-22, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, October 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the casual, intimate theater upstairs at the Starlite Room (starlitesrq.com), 1001 Cocoanut Avenue. “Love, Actually” includes plays by area as well as international authors with two world premieres and two award-winners among the offerings. All four comedies are presented every evening.
The plays are:
- “Assisted Loving” by Jack Gilhooley, Sarasota, FL. Director: Mark Woodland. Hermione (Andrea Dovner) chose Arbor Manor as a retirement home for her mother Rosalind (Jan Wallace), a retired professor and Shakespearean scholar–but nary a tree was in sight when she visited what is really Ardor Manor, where Rosalind shares a room with another resident, Benny (Neil Levine), while blasé receptionist Doris (Ana Maria Larson) keeps track of room swaps among residents. World premiere.
- “One-Night Stan” by Adam Szudrich, Australia. Director: Mike Lusk. Three very different women–20-something Rachel (Ariella Pizarro), 30-something Holly (Liz Pascoe) and 40-something Marie (Jennifer Barnekow)—date the same man, with three very different results. World premiere.
- “It’s Only a Minute a Guy” by John Franceschini, California. Director: Jan Wallace. A recently divorced woman (Sandra Musicante), wanting to get back into circulation, attends a one-minute speed dating event at a bar. Disillusioned after meeting five bizarre “dates” (all played by Alan Kitty), she starts to leave but decides to stay after a surprise she could never have imagined. (“Audience favorite”; previous productions: CA, IL, KY, MD, MT, NY, VA, WA)
- Jansen Isn’t Here Now by Steven Korbar, California. Director: Garry Allan Breul. Jaded Mary Margaret (Liz Pascoe) is completely uninterested in Chris (Joseph Mammina), a man she meets at a singles bar. Everything changes when she discovers he recently left the priesthood. (Included in The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2010.)
Tickets are $17.50 and include the four comedies as well as a 15% discount on an optional pre- or post-show dinner at The Starlite Room. For show tickets and information: www.starliteplayers.com, [email protected], and 941.587.8290 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Also see the Starlite Players Facebook page. For dinner reservations: 941.702.5613. (Please note the spelling of “Starlite.”)
The Starlite Players’ next show, “Thank You—I Think,” will be presented from November 10-13. The performing arts company stages an evening of new, short, comedies for one weekend each month and has presented 53 new plays since its debut in July 2015. Its focus is on theater professionals from the Tampa Bay area although it accepts scripts from authors around the world at times. Jo Morello, Inc., is the producer. In addition to the Starlite Room, sponsors include the Jazz Club of Sarasota, one of the most active jazz societies in the country, and Kobernick-Anchin-Benderson, Sarasota’s only rental senior community.
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PHOTO CAPTIONS
Assisted Loving
When she visits her mother Rosalind in her assisted living facility, Hermione (Andrea Dovner), far right, is dismayed to find that Rosalind (Jan Wallace) and fellow resident Benny (Neil Levine) are sharing the same room—and much more. Receptionist Doris (Ana Maria Larson), far left, is more surprised by Hermione’s reaction than the behavior of the loving couple in “Assisted Loving.” Mark Woodland directs this play by Jack Gilhooley as part of “Love, Actually,” a collection of short comedies produced by Starlite Players and running from Oct. 20-23 in Sarasota’s Starlite Room. (Photo: Mark Woodland)
One-Night Stan:
Twenty-something Rachel (Ariella Pizzaro), thirty-something Holly (Liz Pascoe) and forty-something Marie (Jennifer Barnikow) describe their vastly different experiences dating the same man in “One-Night Stan” by Adam Szudrich. Mike Lusk directs the play as part of “Love, Actually,” a collection of short comedies produced by Starlite Players and running from Oct. 20-23 in Sarasota’s Starlite Room. (Photo: Mike Lusk)
Only a Minute A Guy
Recently divorced Betty (Sandra Musicante) hopefully attends a speed-dating event but is disillusioned to meet five bizarre “dates” (all played by Alan Kitty) in “It’s Only A Minute A Guy,” written by John Franceschini and directed by Jan Wallace. The play is part of “Love, Actually,” a collection of short comedies produced by Starlite Players and running from Oct. 20-23 in Sarasota’s Starlite Room. (Photo: Jan Wallace)
Mrs. Jansen Isn’t Here Now
Mary Margaret (Liz Pascoe) is not interested in Chris (Joseph Mammina) when they meet in a bar until he reveals that he is a former priest. Things begin to change quickly as she moves from disbelief to interest in “Mrs. Jansen Isn’t Here Now.” Garry Allan Bruel directs this play by Steven Korbar as part of “Love, Actually,” a collection of short comedies produced by Starlite Players and running from Oct. 20-23 in Sarasota’s Starlite Room. (Photo: Mike Lusk)
