In the one-act evening A Different Perspective, Living Arrangements, by Ron Pantello has Penelope the cat played by Katherine Tye (a last-minute but first-rate replacement) discouraging rambunctious Killarn Tyler Johnson as Prince the dog from trying to move in with his master over her “servant” owner. Director Jamie Lee Butrum stresses irony in Prince’s eagerness to follow all of Penelope’s supposedly positive suggestions. Really positive performances here! Best dog imitation since Sylvia.Kudos, also, to catty Tye!
We’re Having a Baby, by Irene L. Pynn, made me one of the crowd laughing out loud and often at Rik Robertson as Rick, certain he’s pregnant after a test showing him positive. No difference when exasperated wife Cynthia (Jamie Lee Butrum, a voice of reason) has him test a second time. Will her OB/GYN Dr. Hubbard (Michael Kinsey, very professional) set the matter straight? Jamie Lee may not have made the right call on either man in her role in the play but as its director, she gets everything’s right. Starlite Players aims to highlight local talent that otherwise might not get much professional exposure, and that aim is certainly fulfilled by the talents in this hilarious, 30-minute, not-entirely-absurd, play. Gene & Aggie brings on the first meeting between young playwright Eugene O’Neill (an attractive Tai Reeve) and Janet Raines’s strong but acquiring-a-weakness Aggie Boulton. She’s the woman who’ll be his first wife. The ironies in their situation get suitable attention via Ken Erickson’s direction. Tyler Yurckonis as Jamie O’Neill makes the most of his momentary acquaintance with Aggie, though his brother quickly takes over. This play differs from most about Eugene O’Neill, which concentrate on his later life and don’t have the comic aspects that are refreshing here. Breaking Harvard has director Mark Woodland getting every comic nuance out of the situation of Daniel and Emily Bell trying to get their son into Harvard. Playwright Nicole Cunningham paints them as happily prosperous and dedicated to buying him the best education. But Admissions Counselor Mr. Liverpool (Michael Kinsey, from snooty to enraged to reasonable) finds their “professions” a problem. Mark and Diana Shoemaker, who manifest their slick comic experience in Manatee Co. productions, make a delightful addition to the scene down south. Kinsey’s Liverpool can’t resist them, and neither did the audience on opening night.
The overall title of Starlite Players’ program is certainly appropriate! It’s not only different but delightful.
