February Comedies at Azuay Community Theater
An evening of laughs awaits Cuenca theater-goers starting Friday, February 17 with the opening of An Evening of Short Plays. 4 comedies, each by different playwrights and directed by 4 different ACT directors will entertain audiences in this popular collection form.
A Collection of Funny, Short Plays
Members of the company have drawn from many decades of play-reading and production experience to select the best comic writing for the show. A quick rundown of each show follows:
Tennessee Williams who penned Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof also wrote, A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot which shows us Flora and Bessie, members of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Jackson Haggerty Post of the Sons of Mars in Memphis who are in town for the National Convention. Having got separated from “the boys” they await them in the tavern while they chat and gossip. Things get tearful but luckily “the boys” arrive and all ends in jubilation. Features Cody Hamilton, Charlean Born and Gregory Hattaway, directed by Jeanne McCafferty
Our Man in Madras by award-winning, German playwright and novelist, Gert Hofmann, was made into a short film. The dark comedy, published in 1969, offers us a ominous glimpse into soul-challenging corporate America. As a massive tragedy befalls an unseen employee his Human Resources Manage focuses their phone conversation on the poor employee’s productivity. Features real life husband and wife, Markku and Jackie Sario, directed by Bob Fry.
Robert Anderson’s I’m Herbert is one of four plays taken from his famous collection, You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running, one of the most successful comedies in Broadway history. The play shows us in some very funny ways that even with declining capacities, people can foster comfortable relationships .With Bob Hay, Cody Hamilton and directed by Markku Sario
In Plan B, by British author Robert Scott, Richie’s had a bit of an accident while preparing the anniversary dinner, and he and his wife Susan are now waiting in the Emergency Room. Susan is more than a little upset, but perhaps some words from the eccentric Belinda will help. A Leicestershire One Act Play Festival 2019 (UK) winner. With Charlean Born, Mark Deckard and Manya Arond-Thomas, directed by Rick Snyder.
ACT Must Move
ACT recently learned that its February production will be its last in the theater on Av. Ordoñez Lasso, because their landlord chose not renew their lease. Undeterred, the company has just identified a new home in a former movie theater located conveniently near Parque San Sebastian’s restaurants and public transportation with ample space and parking close by. And it will complete its entire ’22-’23 season of 5 shows as planned. This season’s remaining two productions, the heartfelt Love Letters by A.R. Gurney and the Neil Simon comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue will go on!
Unexpected Move Expenses
The theater is normally self-funded through ticket sales. But the significant costs of moving and fitting out the new space like equipment and stage transfer, new furnishings and necessary physical improvements place a big, unexpected financial strain on the all-volunteer organization. (They emphasized again their sincere gratitude for “ACT Angels” whose donations helped keep it afloat during the pandemic.)
Donate to Help ACT Move
The company welcomes financial support in the form of donations sent via Paypal to email [email protected] through June when it will open its first full-scale production in the new el centro location. It asks patrons and other community members to look out for announcements soon about a fund-raising campaign with additional ways to donate.
Meanwhile, those who wish to keep up with the campaign’s details and progress are urged to join its mailing list through the button on its website www.actseats.com or by clicking here:
See An Evening of Short Plays
The show opens Friday, February 17 with 4pm Performances February 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 at ACT’s location on Ordonez Lasso adjacent to the Hotel Oro Verde. A social hour begins at 3pm in the Lounge with a cash bar.
Tickets are $15 and require advance reservations. Credit cards accepted at www.actseats.com. Or Send via Paypal: $15 per ticket using Friends and Family to account [email protected] and include name, email address and performance date. Or email [email protected] to reserve and pay at the door including the same order details.
Rehearsal Photos from An Evening of Short Plays (Photos by Aiden Massey)
Bob Hay and Cody Hamilton in I’m Herbert
Charlean Born and Mark Deckard in Plan B
Markku Sario in Our Man in Madras
Cody Hamilton and Charlean Born in A Perfect Analysis by a Parrot.
