Neil Simon is arguably one of the best playwrights of our time, writing comedies that tickle the funny bone and have us roaring in the aisles with laughter.
Over the years Simon has held his own against the likes of Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and Time Magazine once wrote "If Broadway ever erects a monument to the patron saint of laughter, Neil Simon would have to be it. "
This weekend Auburnians will have a chance to see Simon's comedy when the Auburn Players, present their production of "Plaza Suite."
"Plaza Suite" is one of Simon's most successful Broadway hits that was originally produced in New York in 1968, and starred George C. Scott and Maureen Stapleton. The play was made into a popular movie sharing the same name, that starred Walter Matthau.
"Plaza Suite" consists of three different acts with three entirely different stories. The common bond is that they take place at suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel and deal with the misadventures of three very different couples, whose marriages are in disarray.
The comedy begins with the first play titled "Visitor from Mamaroneck," which is the story of Karen Nash (played by Ann Fitzgerald), and her husband Sam (Joel Weirrick). Karen is a middle-aged woman that is desperate to save her failing marriage.
She invites her husband to celebrate their 23rd or 24th anniversary (neither can remember) in the same place they spent their wedding night - The Plaza Hotel. The evening is met with disaster as Sam is more concerned with his business and his secretary.
They spend most of the evening bickering and arguing over the room, the floor, their anniversary, and why Sam must leave for a business trip.
The second act titled "Visitor from Hollywood," is the story of Jesse Kiplingler (Gabe Infantino), and Muriel Tate (April Bender).
Jesse is a smooth-talking Hollywood movie producer, who after three failed marriages, calls up a childhood sweetheart for a fling. He calls Tate, his teenage girlfriend, now a suburban housewife, and she turns out to be more than he expected. Under the influence of several drinks, and Kiplinger's smooth talk, she overcomes her apprehension about meeting him and her solid marriage, doesn't seem so solid anymore.
"Muriel is a lot of fun to play, she's very nervous at first, so she's very clumsy. She feels that Jesse is far better than her, and that his world is so much more important, she's in awe of him," said Bender.
"I really enjoy working with the Auburn Players, it gives you a chance to do a lot of different things, you are given the chance to use all your abilities and acquire some new ones. I like to play different characters, because you get to try out different personalities and then see how close some of those personalities are to your own. It's really very interesting."
In the final act called "Visitor from Forest Hills," the guests of suite 719, Roy and Norma Hubley (Martha Petrosino and Robert Miller)are trying to coax their daughter Mimsey Hubley (Jen Lubanewski) from the bathroom, when she feels last minute jitters before being married. From the seemingly hopeless scene in the bathroom, the big expensive wedding downstairs may not go as planned.
The play directed by Dia Carabajal, is a mixture of comedy, sorrow, passion and lust.
"Neil Simon's work is always wonderful, his stuff can be serious and at the same time be incredibly funny," said Carabajal. "Comedy is very challenging to direct and to perform, but we have a great cast that work very hard. The cast is very talented and well rounded. I really like a comedy because of the challenge, it seems as though every time I direct, I learn more and move forward. It's really a lot of fun."
"Plaza Suite" will be the opening play of the Auburn Players 43rd season. It will run this weekend only at the Cayuga Community College Theatre, on 197 Franklin St., in Auburn. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, Saturday, Sept. 13 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. Tickets for the show are $10 for seniors and students, and $12 for general admission. Tickets are available at the door. For more information call 258-8275.
This weekend Auburnians will have a chance to see Simon's comedy when the Auburn Players, present their production of "Plaza Suite."
"Plaza Suite" is one of Simon's most successful Broadway hits that was originally produced in New York in 1968, and starred George C. Scott and Maureen Stapleton. The play was made into a popular movie sharing the same name, that starred Walter Matthau.
"Plaza Suite" consists of three different acts with three entirely different stories. The common bond is that they take place at suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel and deal with the misadventures of three very different couples, whose marriages are in disarray.
The comedy begins with the first play titled "Visitor from Mamaroneck," which is the story of Karen Nash (played by Ann Fitzgerald), and her husband Sam (Joel Weirrick). Karen is a middle-aged woman that is desperate to save her failing marriage.
She invites her husband to celebrate their 23rd or 24th anniversary (neither can remember) in the same place they spent their wedding night - The Plaza Hotel. The evening is met with disaster as Sam is more concerned with his business and his secretary.
They spend most of the evening bickering and arguing over the room, the floor, their anniversary, and why Sam must leave for a business trip.
The second act titled "Visitor from Hollywood," is the story of Jesse Kiplingler (Gabe Infantino), and Muriel Tate (April Bender).
Jesse is a smooth-talking Hollywood movie producer, who after three failed marriages, calls up a childhood sweetheart for a fling. He calls Tate, his teenage girlfriend, now a suburban housewife, and she turns out to be more than he expected. Under the influence of several drinks, and Kiplinger's smooth talk, she overcomes her apprehension about meeting him and her solid marriage, doesn't seem so solid anymore.
"Muriel is a lot of fun to play, she's very nervous at first, so she's very clumsy. She feels that Jesse is far better than her, and that his world is so much more important, she's in awe of him," said Bender.
"I really enjoy working with the Auburn Players, it gives you a chance to do a lot of different things, you are given the chance to use all your abilities and acquire some new ones. I like to play different characters, because you get to try out different personalities and then see how close some of those personalities are to your own. It's really very interesting."
In the final act called "Visitor from Forest Hills," the guests of suite 719, Roy and Norma Hubley (Martha Petrosino and Robert Miller)are trying to coax their daughter Mimsey Hubley (Jen Lubanewski) from the bathroom, when she feels last minute jitters before being married. From the seemingly hopeless scene in the bathroom, the big expensive wedding downstairs may not go as planned.
The play directed by Dia Carabajal, is a mixture of comedy, sorrow, passion and lust.
"Neil Simon's work is always wonderful, his stuff can be serious and at the same time be incredibly funny," said Carabajal. "Comedy is very challenging to direct and to perform, but we have a great cast that work very hard. The cast is very talented and well rounded. I really like a comedy because of the challenge, it seems as though every time I direct, I learn more and move forward. It's really a lot of fun."
"Plaza Suite" will be the opening play of the Auburn Players 43rd season. It will run this weekend only at the Cayuga Community College Theatre, on 197 Franklin St., in Auburn. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, Saturday, Sept. 13 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. Tickets for the show are $10 for seniors and students, and $12 for general admission. Tickets are available at the door. For more information call 258-8275.
The Citizens' Say
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