'Present Laughter' funny, charming

Theater Scene column by Carol Moore

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Friday, April 27, 2007

Whenever I review a play at Marian Theatre Guild, I wonder why the Guild only does two productions a year. While other community theater groups are using store fronts with makeshift stages and folding chairs, the Guild's 50-year-old theater is definitely user-friendly for both actors and audience, and their productions are consistently well done.

Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" is a drawing-room comedy. As the audience is being seated, Andrew Flores entertains with selections on the grand piano, an integral part of Martin Dybel's amazing set.

Director Leslie A. Evans has added equity actors Robert Hildreth and Geraldine O'Mahoney Hildreth to an outstanding amateur cast. He stars as the flamboyant Garry Essendine; she plays the scheming Joanna Lyppiatt

Garry seems to attract more than his share of adoring fans. Adoring young ladies like Daphne Stillington (Kaitlyn Price) frequently mislay their latchkeys in order to spend the night in his spare room.

Aspiring writers like Roland Maule (Nikko Elliott) are forever sending manuscripts for him to read. Although his wife Liz (Bonnie Johnson) moved out, she still takes care of him. Interloper Joanna, who loathes Liz, is married to Hugo (Rip Johnson), involved in an affair with Morris (Jim Thorp), and then she loses her latchkey! Witty dialogue delivered with just the right emphasis makes "Present Laughter" a definite must-see. FYI: (219) 473.7555.

Illinois Theatre Center has chosen "The Last Five Years" as its final production of the season. Cathy Hiatt (Cory Goodrich) and Jamie Wellerstein (Marc Pera) met, fell in love, and got married. Jamie's songs start at the beginning, while Cathy's songs start at the end of their five-year relationship. Jamie wrote a successful book when he was still in college, while Cathy is working as a waitress but wants to be an actress. Jamie is famous, Cathy's auditioning.

Through their songs, Jamie and Cathy reveal their love, their hurts, their frustrations and their break-up. Composer Jason Robert Brown won a Tony award for his score for "Parade." Director David Perkovich directs this moving one-act musical. You'll enjoy "The Last Five Years," which plays through May 6. FYI: (708) 748-6722.

Calumet College of St. Joseph presents "Durang, Durang" this weekend only. FYI: (219) 805-5018 or (210) 838-6464.

"Visiting Mr. Green" opens tonight and plays through May 6 at the Genesius Guild, Hammond. FYI: (219) 724-7715.

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