Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Neil Simon fans can double their fun with two plays this weekend

If you're a Neil Simon fan, you might be able to squeeze in a double feature this weekend.

Looking Glass Playhouse in Lebanon is staging "Brighton Beach Memoirs," and Monroe Actors Stage Company in Waterloo is producing "Fools."

Or you could go for Woody Allen humor with "Don't Drink the Water" at Alton Little Theater.

'Brighton Beach Memoirs'

"Brighton Beach" is the better known of the two Simon plays. He based it on his own New York childhood during the Great Depression.

Director Patrick Donnigan calls it a "coming-of-age" story involving both young and old family members.

"They all are going through changes in their lives and trying to make decisions about their future," he said.

Simon's 13-year-old character, Eugene, is played by Jed Buechele, of Lebanon. He is pondering whether to become a professional baseball player or writer and learning about girls with help from his older brother, Stanley (Devon Kirsch, of Belleville).

Mother Kate (Lisa Lovelace, of Breese) is struggling to keep the poor Jewish family clothed and fed. Her husband, Jack (Mike Russell, of Mascoutah), has lost his job.

"At any given moment, their European relatives could knock on the door (because of political unrest), and they already have a houseful of people," Donnigan said.

They've taken in Kate's sister, Blanche (Cindy Donnigan, of Lebanon), whose husband has died; and her two daughters, Nora (Lynette Chinal, of Edwardsville) and Laurie (Victoria Symonds, of Lebanon).

This is Donnigan's first try at directing, but he's a longtime community-theater actor and crew member. He credits his ensemble cast and assistant director Steve Schneider with making it work.

"The biggest challenge is that the woman who plays Blanche is my wife, and she doesn't listen to me very well," Donnigan joked.

Show times for "Brighton Beach Memoirs" are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Nov. 19-21 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 22. at the Looking Glass Playhouse, 301 W. St. Louis St. in Lebanon.

"Fools"

Simon allegedly wrote "Fools" as a result of a divorce settlement that provided for his ex-wife to earn royalties from his next play.

"It appears that he wrote it to fail," said Tammy Duensing, of Prairie du Rocher, who is directing the offbeat comedy for Monroe Actors Stage Company. "It didn't last very long on Broadway (in 1981), but it's become a huge hit at community theaters and high schools and colleges. It's really funny."

The story is set in a small village in 19th-century Ukraine. A doctor and his wife hire a Moscow schoolteacher to educate their daughter.

The two young people fall in love amid crazy circumstances involving the village's butcher, postmaster, shepherd, vendor, judge and count.

Lynn Venhaus, of Belleville, who plays the doctor's wife, describes it as "Abbott and Costello's 'Who's on First' meets 'Fiddler on the Roof' with a touch of 'The Princess Bride.'"

Other leads are Tory Dahlhoff, of Hecker, as the schoolteacher; Jeff Clinebell, of Waterloo, as the doctor; and Emily Bolbach, Tory's wife, as the doctor's daughter.

"The actors are really enjoying performing in this play," Duensing said. "Each character is a character. Nobody is just a straight person. It's had us rolling in the aisles at rehearsals."

Show times for "Fools" are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Nov. 20 and 21 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 22 at the Capitol Theatre, Third and Main in Waterloo.

"Don't Drink the Water"

"Don't Drink the Water" is the whacky story of New Jersey family members who go on vacation somewhere behind the Iron Curtain and end up being arrested for taking photographs and accused of spying.

They're held captive at an embassy, where they meet a mad chef, a cranky Secret Service agent and a priest who performs magic.

"Woody Allen wrote (the play) in the 1960s," said director Sue Mueller, of Godfrey. "It was first performed at Alton Little Theater in 1970, so this is a second run."

Leads include Tonya Nix, of Godfrey, as the mother; Randy Hoven, of Alton, as the father; Craig Stark, of Bethalto, as the ambassador's son; and Louie Lafikes, of Alton, as the priest.

Mueller is particularly proud of the set.

"My husband (Jerry) actually took two weeks off work so we would have a beautiful embassy," she said. "He built it all himself. It's pretty incredible. He did a great job."

Show times for "Don't Drink the Water are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Nov. 19-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 15 and 22 at Alton Little Theater, 2450 N. Henry St.

At a glance

"Brighton Beach Memoirs"

Where: Looking Glass Playhouse, 301 W. St. Louis St. in Lebanon.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Nov. 19-21 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 22.

Admission: $10 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and students.

Reservations: Call 537-4962 and leave a message.

"Fools"

Who: Monroe Actors Stage Company.

Where: Historic Capitol Theatre, Third and Main in Waterloo.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Nov. 20 and 21 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 22.

Admission: $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students.

Tickets: Purchase at Vivant Wines in Columbia or Courthouse Cafe in Waterloo or online at www.masctheatre.org.

Reservations: Call 939-7469.

"Don't Drink the Water"

Where: Alton Little Theater, 2450 N. Henry St.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Nov. 19-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 15 and 22.

Admission: $14 for adults and $6 for students.

Information: Visit www.altonlittletheater.org.