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Island Players bring the laughs with “A comedy of Tenors”

Island Players bring laughs with ‘A Comedy of Tenors’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – The Island Players have struck comedy gold with their latest production, “A Comedy of Tenors,” the fourth of five plays in the 73rd season of productions at the Island Playhouse.

Directed by Preston Boyd, whose wife, Priscilla, is the stage manager, Ken Ludwig’s sequel to his hit, “Lend Me a Tenor” finds that a trio of temperamental tenors, one wife, one lover and a few significant others have been recruited to create havoc, make love to the wrong person, slam the usual number of doors, leap head first off a balcony, hide, dress and undress in corresponding bedrooms with one pretending to be who he is not. 

The events all center around world-famous tenor Tito Merelli (John Andruzzi) as he arrives at his Paris hotel with his wife Maria (Valerie Lipscomb) to perform for 30,000 fans at a soccer stadium for a concert being billed as the biggest concert in the history of Paris. Tito is contracted to sing with two other tenors, Max (Mikey Lynch) and Carlo (Colin Brady) for the “show of the century” being promoted by the highly stressed, anxiety-riddled producer Saunders (James Thaggard), who wants nothing more than to get the tenors from the luxurious hotel room (brilliantly designed by set designer Jan Van Wart and the construction crew) that is the center of the chaos to the soccer stadium next door.

Unknown to Tito is the affair that is going on between his lovely daughter, Mimi (Katie Zanders), and Carlo, of whom Tito not only disapproves but who he mistakenly believes is having an affair with his wife. Add to this mixup the singing hotel porter (also played by Andruzzi) and a sexy Russian soprano (Sharon Bartley) who, unbeknownst to Maria, once had had an affair with Tito before they were married. Max, who was Saunder’s assistant in “Lend Me a Tenor” and is now his son-in-law, is anxious to get through the concert before his wife (not seen) goes into labor. 

Director Boyd does a brilliant job of bringing out the best in each and every actor in this production. Andruzzi is simply hilarious from the moment he walks on stage with his comical Italian accent to the closing of the curtain, playing not only himself, but also Beppo, the singing bellhop. The only thing lacking in this play is the audience having backstage access during act two. Doors slamming open and closed, Tito and Beppo being two characters played by one man means lightning-fast costume changes (this is the case for other characters as well) which much be complete pandemonium behind the scenes, but is pulled off flawlessly. If only we could get a look at how they must be frantically changing costumes with seconds to spare.

“A Comedy of Tenors” runs through March 20 at the Island Playhouse, 10009 Gulf Drive. Contact the box office at 941-778-5755 or visit the website for ticket information.

Island Players deliver another hit with ‘Same Time, Next Year’ BY JASON SCHAFFER

Island Players deliver another hit with ‘Same Time, Next Year’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

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.

Island Players ready for season’s second production

Island Players opening season’s second production

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – After a successful start to their historic 73rd season with “Savannah Sipping Society,” The Island Players are just days away from the opening night of their second play of the 2021-22 season.

“Same Time, Next Year,” directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland and starring Mark Woodland (George) and Nancy Denton (Doris), will debut Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. 

Written by Bernard Slade, “Same Time, Next Year” is the story of a couple that has a one-night affair at a hotel in San Francisco in the early 1950s. The two decide to meet at the same hotel once a year, every year to relive the night.

“The rules were that they didn’t contact each other or have any relationship throughout the rest of the year, they just meet this one time every year at the location where the affair took place,” Woodland said. “We the audience see it every five years as it progresses from 1951 to 1975.”

This story may sound familiar, and you may have seen it on the big screen. “Same Time, Next Year” was a film sensation in 1978 starring Ellen Burstyn, who won a Golden Globe for playing Doris, and Alan Alda, who played George. In all, the film garnered two Golden Globe nominations and three Academy Award nominations. 

“Same Time, Next Year” will run from Nov. 4-14 at The Island Players on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue. Tickets are available at the box office Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $25. Showtimes will be Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Call 941-778-5755 for more information.

Island Players reach out to Freedom Village

Island Players reach out to Freedom Village

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Theater.

ANNA MARIA – After more than a year since a live performance, the Island Players has announced the lineup for its 73rd season, and is once again reaching out to residents of Freedom Village in Bradenton to attend this season’s plays.

Founded in 1949, the Island Players, based in the Island Players Theater on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue, is the Island’s oldest community theater, located in one of the Island’s oldest buildings dating back to 1912. During the COVID-19 downtime, the Island Players used the absence of staff and performers to upgrade the Island Playhouse facility.

“We put in new wiring, a new sound system, air conditioning, lighting, paint, replaced siding, cleaned and even remodeled the bathrooms,” Public Relations Chair Diane Phinney said.

An annual mission for the Island Players is to reach out to Freedom Village in Bradenton, where they offer to sell residents season tickets, as well as arrange transportation to and from performances for residents of the senior living facility.

“We’ve done this every year for a long time. I just got involved with it about seven years ago. We go to Freedom Village every summer and sign them up for season tickets for our theater. Freedom Village provides a bus service for them to get them from Freedom Village to the Island Players. I think we signed up about 50 residents today,” said Connie Camboni, a volunteer who has been with the Island Players for seven years.

Freedom Village residents will attend the first Wednesday performance of every play in the 2021-22 season. The 73rd season will kick off in September with a production of “The Savannah Sipping Society” and will also feature four additional productions, which include “Same Time Next Year,” Nov. 4-14; “Blithe Spirit,” Jan. 6-13, 2022; “A Comedy of Tenors,” March 3-20, 2022 and “The Psychic,” May 5-15, 2022. In addition, the Children’s Drama Camp will give two performances on July 23. For information on signing up for the camp, which runs from July 12-15, contact Kathryn Palmer at 941-778-1908, ext. 207.