"The Sunshine Boys" to be Presented by Serendipity Players

SERENDIPITY PLAYHOUSE, 500 Washington Street, Vancouver, Wash., presents “The Sunshine Boys” by Neil Simon, October 5 – 21.

Dates: October 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

Times: 2 p.m.  Sunday; 8 p.m.  Friday and Saturday.

Tickets: $15 – at the door 30 minutes before the performance
Reservations recommended. Leave info at 360-834-3588

Special: 8 p.m. Thursday October 11 “Pay What You Will” Tickets available at the door only.

About the Play and Cast

Willie and Al were the famous comedy team of Lewis and Clark for 43 years until they broke up 12 years ago. Now they’ve been offered a chance to reunite for one night. Will they be able to put aside their differences and go on with the show? Or do the old wounds run too deep? Hilarity ensues as they work out their differences, on and off stage.

The Sunshine Boys is a comedy in two acts set in the early 1970’s. The Sunshine Boys features Boyd Kelly, Randy Swerdlick, Tory Mitchell, Amber Cobb III, Jack McCracken, Cecelia Harper, and Sandra Geary. Directed by Tony Broom and Joni Moore.

“It’s hard to go wrong with Neil Simon. We’ve been having so much fun with the rehearsals that this barely seems like work,” reports director Tony Broom. “They’re a really funny and talented group. Randy and Boyd have both done the play before and that’s been helpful to all of us.” 

The following Photographs, by Christopher Paradee, were provided:

Serendipity Players is a non-equity, semi-professional theater company.

AUDITIONS: Serendipity Christmas Production

Serendipity Players is holding open auditions for all roles in “Christmas Belles.” Auditions will be held in the evening on October 7 and 8, from 7 - 9 p.m. Headshots and resumes are suggested, but not required.

 Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. All parts are available to actors of any ethnicity unless otherwise noted. The ages stated are a guideline only.

The roles:

Frankie- late 30’s, very pregnant, worried about her family

Twink- late 30’s/early 40’s, recently jailed for accidentally starting a fire

Honey Rae- 40’s, in charge of the Christmas pageant, feuding with Geneva

Geneva- 50’s/60’s, former pageant organizer, feuding with Honey Rae

Rhonda Lynn- 40’s, a friend of Frankie’s with a secret

Gina Jo- 20’s, Frankie’s daughter, romantically involved with Justin

Patsy- 40’s the town snob

Dub- late 30’s, Frankie’s husband, working as a department store Santa

John- 30’s/40’s- the local sheriff, with eyes for at least one of the sisters

Justin- 20’s, interim preacher, dating Gina Jo

Raynerd- 30’s/40’s/50’s, works with Rhonda Lynn, childlike

Rehearsals are scheduled to begin October 15 and the schedule will be based upon the availability of the cast. Performances are November 30, December 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 at 8 p.m., December 2, 9, 16 at 2 p.m..

This is a volunteer, non-equity production. There should be a small stipend to cover some expenses.

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to serendipityplayers@gmail.com, or call Tony at 971-563-3661

From a Press Release

REVIEW: Serendipity Players Debuts Dezy Walls' "Not the Life I Ordered"

The U.S. debut of Dezy Walls’s one-act musical, “Not the Life I Ordered,” is now playing at Serendipity Theatre, 500 Washington St. in downtown Vancouver, with two alternating casts.

It plays at various times, Thursdays through Saturdays, through September 2. It was first presented in Walls’ home country of Ireland.

The Story

 On the surface, the story is about the explosive relationship of two brothers, Simon (Tony Broom), in his well-ordered upper-crust life, and Jack (Dezy Walls), the black sheep of the family, with nary a pence to his name.

Actress Joni
Moore

A third character, Mary (Joni Moore), is around as a sort of Director/Manager of their environment.

It is the day before Simon’s wedding when Jack appears on his doorstep, needing a place to stay and a friend (and a few pounds wouldn’t hurt, either). Through their spirited spats and suggestive songs, we discover secrets and lies, longings and dreams. In short it is not, as the title aptly suggests, the life they wanted.

The Songs

The songs are simply done, with only a recorded piano for an accompaniment most of the time (it’s very well done, but not credited, probably Walls). The songs, in short, are the heart of the show and very well suited to the subject matter. Be warned, though, if you have a problem with rough language, this is not the show for you.

Dezy Walls (at the bike piano) and Stephanie
Andreus who plays as an alternate to Moore
at select performances. Photos provided.

All the songs are good, but the ones that stood out for me were “The Perfect Song,” “Joe Piano,” “The Stress Management Song” (actual title can’t be printed here), “Do Up Your Necktie and Dance,” “Amanda,” and the theme song for the show, “You Gotta Have a Dream.”

And, unlike some musicals, these songs are actually integrated as part of the storytelling. Absolutely super! You will want to get the CD.

It is not surprising, then, that Dezy Walls is the most watchable of the characters; he seems to fit this persona to a tee. The story is, very probably, personal for him.

Broom is good, too. His silent moment of waiting for his Mum to inspect his bed, will bring a tear to your eye.

And Moore sings and acts fine, but her character seems superfluous to the story.

The Setting

The setting is sparse, akin to a “black box” presentation, in which the story, the actors’ abilities, and the audience’s imagination are all that are needed to create the play. This is very appropriate for this sort of story. The lighting is a bit erratic, though. But the music, as mentioned is very good.

Director/Actor
Tony Broom

The direction, by Tony Broom and Joni Moore, needs to be tighter. Too often the actors seemed to be wandering about the stage without any apparent motivation for it. And the acting could be more focused and specific, not so scattered in their presentation. But, overall, it is a good show and well worth seeing.

 

The Situation

A suggestion regarding the story: I don’t think it needs a play-like setting nor the third character (as mentioned). It seems to me that it would lend itself better to a two-person, Cabaret-style presentation and, thus, would tighten up the story. The songs/lyrics tell the story quite well and, I think, don’t need an actual physical location.

To find out more about this play and Serendipity's season see www.serendipityplayers.org. For tickets call 360-834-3588. To find out more about Dezy Walls go to www.dezywalls.com. A conversation with the playwright is scheduled at their theatre at 8:30 p.m., September 2 and is free to the public. I would encourage you to support this up-and-coming theatre troupe.

Review by Dennis Sparks, a freelance reviewer for this site, also with Uncouvered.com.

Serendipity Players Presents the US Debut of Dezy Walls' "Not the Life I Ordered"

Serendipity Players is proud to present the United States premiere of Dezy Walls' “Not the Life I Ordered” from August 23-September 2, 2012 at Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington Street, Vancouver, Wash.

“Not the Life I Ordered” is the story of two brothers who couldn’t be more different. Both have some struggles and secrets, but the power of family and following your dreams prove stronger than they know.

Artistic Notes

According to artistic director Tony Broom, “This is a bit like a musical Irish Odd Couple, if that makes sense." He said, "This is our second time getting to work with the creator of a play and our first musical. We’re all pretty excited.”

 What about having two different casts? “That was Dezy’s idea and I think it was a good one. You get a different perspective on the characters depending on which show you see.”

Opening night is August 23 at 7 p.m. The production run includes performances at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 24, 25, 31, and September 1, with 7 p.m. only on August 23, 30 and September 2.  

The September 2nd performance is "Pay As You Will" and will be followed by a "Conversation with the Playwright, Cast and Crew," which is free and open to the public. All performances take place at The Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St, Vancouver, Wash.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online at http://serendipityplayers.org or reservations can be made by calling 360-834-3588. Tickets are also available at the door, although reservations are strongly suggested as seating is limited. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.

About the Play and Cast

“Not the Life I Ordered” is a contemporary musical with adult themes and language. The cast includes Stephanie Andreus, Mila Boyd, Joni Moore, Dezy Walls and Tony Broom.

Composer/writer Dezy Walls with
Stephanie Andreus (singing)

Dezy Walls is a musician from Ireland. His musical, "Not the Life I Ordered", debuted there. You can read all about Dezy and this play at www.pianobikekid.com. You would also get a better idea about the language there, as he has posted some links to recordings.

Serendipity Players is a non-equity, semi-professional theater company.

From a Press Release by Serendipity Players.

AUDITIONS: Serendipity Players Announces Auditions for Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys"

Serendipity Players is holding open auditions for all roles in "The Sunshine Boys."

They are seeking men and women aged 20-70. Please see character descriptions and synopsis below. Auditions will be held July 30 and 31, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington Street, Vancouver.

Rehearsals will begin August 13th, usually Sunday thru Wednesday, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Performances will be October 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21.

Roles:

Willy 70s
Al 70s
Ben 30s, Willy's nephew
Nurse Any age
Eddie Assistant TV Director, any age
Actor playing a nurse 20s-40s
Actor playing a patient Any age

These ages are guidelines, not absolute.

Synopsis:

Al and Willy were once the comedy partners, Lewis and Clark. Nearly 20 years ago, they split up and haven't spoken since. Now, there's a chance at a reunion. Can they patch up their differences or are things too far gone?

Details:

This is a non-equity production, but we intend to offer a small stipend to cover some expenses.  Headshots and resumes are not required, but will be accepted. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Please call or e-mail for appointment.

Serendipity Players is committed to diversity in all casting. Serendipity Playhouse is wheelchair accessible on stage and off.

If you have questions or can't attend one of the audition dates, please contact Tony at 971-563-3661 or serendipityplayers@gmail.com.

Source: Serendipity email.

AUDITIONS: Serendipity Announces Auditions for "Adrift in New York"

Serendipity Players is holding auditions for the melodrama, “Adrift in New York,” by Addison Aulger.

Directed by JJ Harris, 7 to 9 p.m., June 12 and 13 (Tues/Wed) at the Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver, Wash.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Headshots and resumes are welcome, but not required.

 Performance dates are as follows: August 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25,  and 26. Rehearsals will begin the week of June 18. Rehearsals and performances at Serendipity Playhouse.

Diversity in casting is a core value at Serendipity Players. Roles are below; some parts are gender neutral:

Silas Weston (Nellie’s father)
Martha Weston (Nellie’s sister)
Nellie Weston (our heroine)
Sarah Weston (Nellie’s aunt)
Jack Merriwell (our hero)
Francis Desmond (the villain)
Jim Burke (a criminal)
Hi Perkins (the Sheriff)
Dan Fogarty (bar owner)
Maggie Clancy (singer who has seen better days)
Mulligan (city cop)
Sadie May (bar performer)
Monty Moran (bar employee)
Slick McCoy (bar performer)
Lillian Morrison (night club prima donna)

Extras: piano player, customers, dancers, singers

While this is not a musical, there are some roles that require singing. If you are interested in one of these roles, please bring music on a CD to the audition for accompaniment as there will be no other accompaniment available.

If you are interested in working backstage, please come to the auditions at 6 p.m. to meet with the director. Serendipity Players is a non-equity house. We intend to offer a small stipend at the end of the run.

If you have questions, please contact the director at jjharris@designworksnw.com
or contact Tony Broom, artistic director at serendipityplayers@gmail.com, 971-563-3661.

Source: Serendipity Players

REVIEW: Serendipity's "Steel Magnolias" a Real Flower

The Cut

The film “Steel Magnolias” was all the rage among women in 1989. It did well financially and featured a stellar ensemble cast. Julia Roberts won a Golden Globe and garnered an Oscar nom for her performance as Shelby. The film was adapted for the screen from the 1987 stage version by the playwright Robert Harling.

Somewhat of a chick flick, I’d never seen the film, nor the stage play up until this week. I watched the movie on Netflix before attending the Serendipity Players production on opening night, June 1. I didn’t like the film so much even though the ensemble cast was magnificent. I found it a downer—a bait and switch which presented itself first as a comedy and then, BAM, a depressing ending.

The play contains the same structure and story, but didn’t seem to manipulate me in the same way or leave me depressed. There wasn’t the feeling of bait and switch; it flowed together more naturally--the play’s dramatic turn didn’t seem quite so jarring. Also, it seems, it is better to be told about what happens outside the salon than to actually see it all (as in the movie). I liked the play very much. It is heartwarming, hilarious and healing.

In a nutshell, the story revolves around a group of female friends who congregate in the local beauty salon. The film introduces many more characters (including men) and locations that only convolute this simple tale of friendship through life’s thick and thin. The story is based on the playwright’s sister and her struggle with diabetes, but it’s much more than that.

The Style and Curl

 Dalene Young, Joni Moore, Alicia Marie Turvin, Emily Wells, and Fayra Teeters

The Serendipity production was marvelous—possibly the best stage performance I have ever seen in Vancouver. The play is a favorite with actresses. [Most plays are quite male-centric and male actors seem to be much harder to come by than the female kind.] And "Steel Magnolias," being such, is rather easy to cast. Much of this stunning cast, however, was, perhaps needlessly, imported from Portland. While I felt it could have been well cast with more local actresses, this ensemble was nearly ideal.

The Serendipity Playhouse is perfect for this kind of play. It is quite intimate (small) and seats only 40 to 50 patrons (depending upon the needs of the staging). There isn’t a bad seat in the house and it is easy to see the actor’s faces. It helped that the play was well lit—the lighting design was even and good overall, hampered only by the LED RGB PARs being too close to the back wall, which gave it an initially distracting luminescent effect.

The unit set was simple and effective and the three “scene changes” were nicely executed. The set wasn’t elaborate, but adequate. Familiar with beauty shops, growing up with my mom being a hairdresser, I did find some lack in the set's dressing. To really "sell" the salon location there needed to be a shampoo sink, a hair dryer and a few electrical hair care appliances. Otherwise, technically, the play was well done, though some of the costumes weren't right for some of the characters some of the time. 

The Gel

It would be hard to match, much less exceed, the stunning performances of Olympia Dukakas, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah and Shirley MaClaine given in the movie and, yet, many in this cast come close.

Jack Wells as Shelby in Steel Magnolias.

The Serendipity show stars Joni Moore as Truvy, Emily Wells as Annelle, Dalene Young as Clairee, Jack Wells as Shelby, Alicia Marie Turvin as M’Lynn and Fayra Teeters as Ouiser (pronounced “wheezer”). This ensemble had true chemistry.

Emily and Jack Wells especially, as well as Young, were marvelous. Perfect! Turvin’s characterization didn’t gel with me, at first, but her performance in Act II, scene two was divine—aptly played grippingly well. (Jack Wells didn't quite sell me on the insulin shock.)


Moore’s performance was really good, though not quite the right bubbly glue that Parton brought to the role. Teeters performance, although amusingly comedic, was too much over the top (melodramatic)—really good, but not matching the natural, realistic performances of the others. Accents were good all around though both Wells' were the best.

Tony Broom, as a guy, must have felt some challenges in directing an entire cast of women—because you’d have to understand them well to bring out the right emotions. It is good he had co-director Sharon Svec. Together they did a wonderful job.

The Comb and Tease

There are many other things to appreciate about this particular production—several lines of dialogue were updated to be more currently relevant and added a nice dimension to the show. A funny bit about Julia Roberts was an especially nice touch. I also found the POV of the production amazing; it was as if the fourth wall was the beauty shop’s mirrors. The characters often spoke to one another by “making eye contact” in these “mirrors.” The radio music and DJ (Gary Corbin) dialogue is perfect—especially the last musical number.

Were there problems? Yes, it was opening night. There was a smattering of little things like a crash in the dark during a scene load and the sound effects computer timing out to the Microsoft tone. These will be fixed. [And would it be that difficult or expensive to use real juice and tomatoes? And the LED PARs shouldn’t be on the dimmer.] The hair styles, I felt, should have been distinctly southern, and they were not.

I have only one real problem with the play (and it has nothing to do with this production): I think the playwright doesn’t like Christians—there are too many slams that did not go unnoticed by me. They aren't terribly mean spirited, but do seem meant to ridicule and undermine. (Okay, I admit, sometimes they are truthful and even funny.)

All in all, the Serendipity production was enjoyable entertainment. Warning: The curtain is at the late hour of 8 p.m. and then runs until nearly 10:45 p.m.

The show continues its run 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 and 2 p.m. Sundays, June 10, 17 and 24. A “pay as you will” production will also be presented Thursday, June 21. All performances take place at The Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver Wash. Tickets are $12 general admission and may be purchased online at www.serendipityplayers.org, or reservations can be made by calling 360-834-3588 . Tickets may also available at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.


Review by Gregory E. Zschomler
Photos and photo show by Ruth Zschomler.

NOW SHOWING on the Vancouver Area Theater Scene

Four great choices for theater this weekend!

"You're a Good Man' Charlie Brown" at Love Street Playhouse, 126 Love St. in Woodland, Wash. Shows 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Also showing the next two weekends. Tickets $11-15. For more information or tickets: 360-263-6670 or www.lovestreetplayhouse.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Woodland branch of Columbia Bank and may be available at the door. See review below.

"Sealegs: Board to Death" presented by Vancouver's Magenta Theater was written by the director, Vancouver playwright Jaynie Roberts. Shows at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also next weekend. Tickets for the dinner theater at Rosemary's Cafe, 1001 Main St. are $30.  For more information or tickets: 360-635-4358 or www.magentatheater.com.

"Happy Anniversary" by Vancouver playwright Gary Corbin will be presented at Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St. in downtown Vancouver. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Plus an ASL interpreted showing at the Sunday matinee on March 18, which is FREE for those of the deaf community and those who sign. Tickets are $12. The show is recommended for those 12 years of age and up. For more information and tickets: www.serendipityplayers.org.

Vancouver Community Theater's 18th annual One-Act Festival at the Minnehaha Grange, 4905 N.E. St. Johns Rd. Three one-act plays "Forgotten Souls," "The Tangled Web," and "Females of Contrast" will be presented. Shows 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday only; this weekend and next. Tickets $7 general, $5 for seniors and children. For tickets or more information: 360-892-4292 or email vancouvercommunitytheater@gmail.com.
See below for descriptions. Review posted here Saturday, March 17th by noon.


By Gregory E. Zschomler