With their last show of 2016, Starlite Players once again bring original and also prize-winning short plays to a cabaret-type atmosphere. Their four comedies, as advertised, “laugh at life’s twists and surprises” and do so with gusto. It’s always fun to laugh at Starlite plays in a convivial atmosphere, so there was an aura of anticipation of a new year at the opening night of the last show of 2016. Close Encounter by Robin Pond describes a meeting between a sexpot with a terrific vocabulary, played just right by Grace Vitale, and a frequent internet dater. Ravished Jean-Paul Monde seems to fall for her but will it just be for a date or two? Ren Pearson debuts as a director who assures his actors meld, though how remains suspenseful to the end. Dolly Gets Her Shot by Cary Pepper has two B-type movie producers doing more than dining in a popular “Dolly” restaurant. Though they mostly drink, director Mark Woodland gives excitable Alan Kitty as Sam and Rick Kopp as obstinate Jake a lot of opportunity between gulps to fashion a good ending to their silly plotting. Luckily, Philip Troyer as resourceful waiter Ken is around to help them out. How funny is that? Audience laughter seems to approve. Frisking Happy Gaylord by Les Hunter is a world premiere sharply directed by Melliss Kenworthy, and it’s an auspicious one. John Durkin’s Police Lt. Friske is justifiably bothered when David Meyersburg’s believable `ole Charlie Gaylord comes in to report a murder. He’s done away with Happy Gaylord! As if he’s not enough for Lt. Friske to contend with, there are phone calls from Molly, a seemingly daffy young gal played convincingly by Samantha Centerbar. The ending registers as a killing. Slip and Fall is Scott Mullen’s intriguing Christmas holiday show. It opens with Santa Claus (a cutely complaining Don Walker), stuck on the floor of the home of Frank (Richard LeVene, rightly irate and suspicious) and Mary (the always handsome comedienne Jenny Aldrich Walker). Director Melliss Kenworthy sees to it that a seemingly illogical romance develops just fine and Santa gets a new life thanks to Frank. This final show of the year for Starlite Players has each play well placed. The first and last plays have the best endings due to final jokes and dialogue with punch.
