ANNA MARIA – Bernard Slade’s comedy, “Same Time, Next Year,” was written in 1975 about a couple who have a one-night affair in a California hotel room in 1951. We first meet George (Mark Woodland) and Doris (Nancy Denton) in bed after an affair that was anything but planned, but not a source of regret for two married people who have an attraction to each other beyond the encounter.
George is an accountant who does his friend’s books in the area, so he stays at the same hotel in the same room every year. Doris is a married housewife who is in town for a Catholic retreat. Both are married with children, but all of the details are not revealed at first. George feels guilty about the affair, while Doris is much more relaxed and working hard to help George calm down. We see them come together for their romantic weekend in February after they agree to meet at the same room every year on the anniversary of their affair, and every time they are at different places in their lives. One thing remains the same; they share “best of” and “worst of” stories about their unsuspecting mates back home.
Directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland, “Same Time, Next Year” puts the weight of the dialogue on just two actors. There are no safety nets as this character-driven play relies on George and Doris to deliver, and in the case of this production, they do. The dynamics of the relationship between the two characters change over time, and the actors do an excellent job of showing the characters evolve through the years, tackling changes in career, the world around them, family dilemmas and social changes such as the Vietnam War and political differences.
“Same Time, Next Year” became a 1978 movie with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn, reprising her Tony Award-winning role in the original stage version. Since the story ends in 1975 and is obviously a bit dated, there are references that many under 50 years old may not “get” and the story does show its age throughout. This may be an obstacle for younger theatergoers, and the show probably doesn’t pack the same punch it did decades ago. That being said, it still provides plenty of laughs and shows that sometimes oldies really are goodies.
“Same Time, Next Year” runs through Nov. 14, and tickets are available for $25 at the Island Players box office, which is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 10009 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Call 941-778-5755 for more information.
