Starlite Players present “Social Savvy” from August 18-21:
Four short comedies look at the ways people behave in unusual social situations
SARASOTA, FL: Like it or not, we’re all social beings, but some of us navigate unspoken cultural expectations more deftly than others. With “Social Savvy,” Starlite Players present four unusual social situations—in an advertising agency, a suburban home, a theater director’s rehearsal and a controlling mother’s kitchen. The collection of four short comedies, including national award-winning plays, runs on August 18-19-20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the casual, intimate theater upstairs at the Starlite Room, 1001 Cocoanut Avenue.
The four comedies are:
“Mark My Worms” by Cary Pepper (author of Starlite’s June production of “Gram Scams”). “I’ve got a bun. … Come out or I’ll hoot.” Mason and Gloria have been cast in a never-before-seen play by the world-class absurdist LaSalle Montclare, but they must perform the play exactly as written— typos and all. Was Montclare the brilliant satirist his legacy claims? Or just a lousy typist? (Previous production: St. Louis Actors’ Studio’s 2016 LaBute New Theater Festival.)
“Putt-Putt” by George Sapio. Members of an advertising agency are troubled when one of their team proposes a new development idea, a Biblical/Christian-themed putt-putt (miniature golf) course. (Previous production: as part of “Six,” a showcase of short works by George Sapio, Ithaca, NY, 2015.)
“Man in the Basement” by Arlene Hutton. A suburban wife contacts her sister and husband upon discovering that a homeless man has been living in her basement. (Previous productions: The Journey Company, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in “The Price You Pay: An Evening of Short Plays by Arlene Hutton”; the University of Kentucky; and a studio production, “Short Stuff: Five Plays by Women,” the Barrow Group, NYC. Hutton, author of “The Nibroc Trilogy” among other plays, is known as Beth Lincks to her friends in the Tampa Bay area, where she grew up and attended schools. She holds an MFA from the Asolo/FSU Conservatory.)
“Galoshes (Unprodigal Son)” by Robert Brophy. Divorced Martin is old enough to know what he wants but his very Catholic, very controlling mother has her own ideas. One of them, sadly, is that he can best protect himself by never going out without wearing galoshes. (Premiere production)
Starlite Players stages an evening of short, unpublished comedies for one weekend each month and has presented 45 plays since its debut in July 2015. Its focus is on theater professionals from the Tampa Bay area. Tickets at $17.50 include the four plays and 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.”)
