Review of "Plaza Suite":
Book a Night’s Stay At Funny ‘laza Suite’By HOWARD KOLUSStaff WriterLebanon Daily News


In opening remarks to the audience, Tom Roy, director of Lebanon Community Theatre’s current production, “laza Suite,” notes that the Neil Simon, Tony Award–winning comedy is the theater’s first show of its 42nd season. Or is that its 43rd season? Maybe only the 41st? While LCT in truth is embarking on its 42nd season, Karen Nash, a character in the first act of this humorous but thought-provoking play, is far less accurate about the significant calculations in her life. The play, consisting of three freestanding acts with decidedly different characters and situations, continues through Feb. 5 at the theater in Stoever’s Dam Park. The sole connection between acts is that all action takes place in Suite 719 of New York’s Plaza Hotel. Karen (played by Ruth Roy, the director’s wife) is a delightfully eccentric woman who plans a romantic evening in the same suite where she and her husband honeymooned 24 years ago. Or so she thinks. As the conversation progresses, Karen’s husband Sam (John Kelsey) corrects his wife: Their 23rd anniversary is the next day; they honeymooned on the eighth, not seventh floor; and she’s 47 years old, not 49. He also drops a bombshell after a visit by his office secretary, who is supposedly on corporate business — he’s been having an affair with the younger woman. As Sam voices banalities about the affair not being his secretary’s fault and that she’s a good woman, he continues to bumble on about how he tried to stop it but “it didn’t work,” then offers his wife a backhanded compliment. “Twenty-three years I’m married to you and I still can’t figure you out,” he says. “I promise you there is nothing walking around on two legs that compares in any way, shape or form like you. ... You didn’t even know I was having an affair.” “I suspected it,” Karen counters. “You were working three nights a week and we weren’t getting any richer.” The banter is typically Simon — humorous, incisive, never dull or the least bit boring — and director Roy has deftly guided his actors in presenting skilled performances, some bordering on outstanding. During a recent dress rehearsal, Ruth Roy demonstrated her mastery of dramatic comedy, capturing the role’s nuances and inflections to perfection. (Roy also appears in the third scene as the mother of a young woman who on her wedding day has second thoughts about marital life.) Also enjoyable were Desiree Woidill as Muriel Tate and Andrew Mannion as Jesse Kiplinger, appearing in the second act as sweethearts who have gone their own ways after their last date a decade ago but reunite for a few hours in Suite 719, a decision that may change both their lives. Jesse has become a top Hollywood star while Muriel remained in Tenafly, N.J., closely following Jesse’s career while raising three young children. In New York for a short stay, the thrice-married Jesse, who is soured on relationships, asks his former flame to stop by the hotel room, convinced she is the “last, simple, sweet ... honest-to-goodness unphony woman” left in the world. Woidill, who holds a degree in acting, handles her first noncollege role exceptionally well. Muriel is a small-town girl still in love with her first beau and nervously entering a world she’s only read about. Woidill skillfully — and with humor — captures the conflicting emotions of her character as Muriel progresses from “I just dropped in to say hello. I really can’t stay” to a bedroom scene as the stage fades to black. It’s a pleasure to watch the actress successfully conquer the deft inflections of dialogue. For example, when she is called upon to say “well, well, well” with each word given a different meaning, Woidill succeeds marvelously. Jesse is a less complex character and Mannion, a proficient performer, offers a believable portrayal of the well-known actor who’s been a failure in love but still longs for his one-time sweetheart. Ruth Roy and Bruce Kissinger star in the third act as the frustrated parents of a young woman who has locked herself in the suite’s bathroom on her wedding day, suddenly fearful of marriage. All attempts to woo her from the sanctuary fail until her fiancé (Juan Morales, also a credible waiter in earlier acts) arrives and utters two amusing words. Lebanon Community Theatre has launched 2006 with, for the most part, a well-acted triple threat. LCT fans could not do better than book a stay at “laza Suite” for an evening of laughter and insight into the human condition. ------ Lebanon Community Theatre’s production of “laza Suite” continues tonight and Feb. 2-4 at 8 p.m. and tomorrow and Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the theater at East Maple Street and Theatre Drive in Stoever’s Dam Park. All tickets are $10. For reservations or more information, call 273-5151. The theater’s Web site is [link]
[link]

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There's something WRONG with us, something very very WRONG with us!

Book a Night’s Stay At Funny ‘laza Suite’By HOWARD KOLUSStaff WriterLebanon Daily News


In opening remarks to the audience, Tom Roy, director of Lebanon Community Theatre’s current production, “laza Suite,” notes that the Neil Simon, Tony Award–winning comedy is the theater’s first show of its 42nd season. Or is that its 43rd season? Maybe only the 41st? While LCT in truth is embarking on its 42nd season, Karen Nash, a character in the first act of this humorous but thought-provoking play, is far less accurate about the significant calculations in her life. The play, consisting of three freestanding acts with decidedly different characters and situations, continues through Feb. 5 at the theater in Stoever’s Dam Park. The sole connection between acts is that all action takes place in Suite 719 of New York’s Plaza Hotel. Karen (played by Ruth Roy, the director’s wife) is a delightfully eccentric woman who plans a romantic evening in the same suite where she and her husband honeymooned 24 years ago. Or so she thinks. As the conversation progresses, Karen’s husband Sam (John Kelsey) corrects his wife: Their 23rd anniversary is the next day; they honeymooned on the eighth, not seventh floor; and she’s 47 years old, not 49. He also drops a bombshell after a visit by his office secretary, who is supposedly on corporate business — he’s been having an affair with the younger woman. As Sam voices banalities about the affair not being his secretary’s fault and that she’s a good woman, he continues to bumble on about how he tried to stop it but “it didn’t work,” then offers his wife a backhanded compliment. “Twenty-three years I’m married to you and I still can’t figure you out,” he says. “I promise you there is nothing walking around on two legs that compares in any way, shape or form like you. ... You didn’t even know I was having an affair.” “I suspected it,” Karen counters. “You were working three nights a week and we weren’t getting any richer.” The banter is typically Simon — humorous, incisive, never dull or the least bit boring — and director Roy has deftly guided his actors in presenting skilled performances, some bordering on outstanding. During a recent dress rehearsal, Ruth Roy demonstrated her mastery of dramatic comedy, capturing the role’s nuances and inflections to perfection. (Roy also appears in the third scene as the mother of a young woman who on her wedding day has second thoughts about marital life.) Also enjoyable were Desiree Woidill as Muriel Tate and Andrew Mannion as Jesse Kiplinger, appearing in the second act as sweethearts who have gone their own ways after their last date a decade ago but reunite for a few hours in Suite 719, a decision that may change both their lives. Jesse has become a top Hollywood star while Muriel remained in Tenafly, N.J., closely following Jesse’s career while raising three young children. In New York for a short stay, the thrice-married Jesse, who is soured on relationships, asks his former flame to stop by the hotel room, convinced she is the “last, simple, sweet ... honest-to-goodness unphony woman” left in the world. Woidill, who holds a degree in acting, handles her first noncollege role exceptionally well. Muriel is a small-town girl still in love with her first beau and nervously entering a world she’s only read about. Woidill skillfully — and with humor — captures the conflicting emotions of her character as Muriel progresses from “I just dropped in to say hello. I really can’t stay” to a bedroom scene as the stage fades to black. It’s a pleasure to watch the actress successfully conquer the deft inflections of dialogue. For example, when she is called upon to say “well, well, well” with each word given a different meaning, Woidill succeeds marvelously. Jesse is a less complex character and Mannion, a proficient performer, offers a believable portrayal of the well-known actor who’s been a failure in love but still longs for his one-time sweetheart. Ruth Roy and Bruce Kissinger star in the third act as the frustrated parents of a young woman who has locked herself in the suite’s bathroom on her wedding day, suddenly fearful of marriage. All attempts to woo her from the sanctuary fail until her fiancé (Juan Morales, also a credible waiter in earlier acts) arrives and utters two amusing words. Lebanon Community Theatre has launched 2006 with, for the most part, a well-acted triple threat. LCT fans could not do better than book a stay at “laza Suite” for an evening of laughter and insight into the human condition. ------ Lebanon Community Theatre’s production of “laza Suite” continues tonight and Feb. 2-4 at 8 p.m. and tomorrow and Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the theater at East Maple Street and Theatre Drive in Stoever’s Dam Park. All tickets are $10. For reservations or more information, call 273-5151. The theater’s Web site is [link]
[link]

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There's something WRONG with us, something very very WRONG with us!

Review of my new play, now running:
Book a Night’s Stay At Funny ‘laza Suite’By HOWARD KOLUSStaff WriterLebanon Daily News


In opening remarks to the audience, Tom Roy, director of Lebanon Community Theatre’s current production, “laza Suite,” notes that the Neil Simon, Tony Award–winning comedy is the theater’s first show of its 42nd season. Or is that its 43rd season? Maybe only the 41st? While LCT in truth is embarking on its 42nd season, Karen Nash, a character in the first act of this humorous but thought-provoking play, is far less accurate about the significant calculations in her life. The play, consisting of three freestanding acts with decidedly different characters and situations, continues through Feb. 5 at the theater in Stoever’s Dam Park. The sole connection between acts is that all action takes place in Suite 719 of New York’s Plaza Hotel. Karen (played by Ruth Roy, the director’s wife) is a delightfully eccentric woman who plans a romantic evening in the same suite where she and her husband honeymooned 24 years ago. Or so she thinks. As the conversation progresses, Karen’s husband Sam (John Kelsey) corrects his wife: Their 23rd anniversary is the next day; they honeymooned on the eighth, not seventh floor; and she’s 47 years old, not 49. He also drops a bombshell after a visit by his office secretary, who is supposedly on corporate business — he’s been having an affair with the younger woman. As Sam voices banalities about the affair not being his secretary’s fault and that she’s a good woman, he continues to bumble on about how he tried to stop it but “it didn’t work,” then offers his wife a backhanded compliment. “Twenty-three years I’m married to you and I still can’t figure you out,” he says. “I promise you there is nothing walking around on two legs that compares in any way, shape or form like you. ... You didn’t even know I was having an affair.” “I suspected it,” Karen counters. “You were working three nights a week and we weren’t getting any richer.” The banter is typically Simon — humorous, incisive, never dull or the least bit boring — and director Roy has deftly guided his actors in presenting skilled performances, some bordering on outstanding. During a recent dress rehearsal, Ruth Roy demonstrated her mastery of dramatic comedy, capturing the role’s nuances and inflections to perfection. (Roy also appears in the third scene as the mother of a young woman who on her wedding day has second thoughts about marital life.) Also enjoyable were Desiree Woidill as Muriel Tate and Andrew Mannion as Jesse Kiplinger, appearing in the second act as sweethearts who have gone their own ways after their last date a decade ago but reunite for a few hours in Suite 719, a decision that may change both their lives. Jesse has become a top Hollywood star while Muriel remained in Tenafly, N.J., closely following Jesse’s career while raising three young children. In New York for a short stay, the thrice-married Jesse, who is soured on relationships, asks his former flame to stop by the hotel room, convinced she is the “last, simple, sweet ... honest-to-goodness unphony woman” left in the world. Woidill, who holds a degree in acting, handles her first noncollege role exceptionally well. Muriel is a small-town girl still in love with her first beau and nervously entering a world she’s only read about. Woidill skillfully — and with humor — captures the conflicting emotions of her character as Muriel progresses from “I just dropped in to say hello. I really can’t stay” to a bedroom scene as the stage fades to black. It’s a pleasure to watch the actress successfully conquer the deft inflections of dialogue. For example, when she is called upon to say “well, well, well” with each word given a different meaning, Woidill succeeds marvelously. Jesse is a less complex character and Mannion, a proficient performer, offers a believable portrayal of the well-known actor who’s been a failure in love but still longs for his one-time sweetheart. Ruth Roy and Bruce Kissinger star in the third act as the frustrated parents of a young woman who has locked herself in the suite’s bathroom on her wedding day, suddenly fearful of marriage. All attempts to woo her from the sanctuary fail until her fiancé (Juan Morales, also a credible waiter in earlier acts) arrives and utters two amusing words. Lebanon Community Theatre has launched 2006 with, for the most part, a well-acted triple threat. LCT fans could not do better than book a stay at “laza Suite” for an evening of laughter and insight into the human condition. ------ Lebanon Community Theatre’s production of “laza Suite” continues tonight and Feb. 2-4 at 8 p.m. and tomorrow and Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the theater at East Maple Street and Theatre Drive in Stoever’s Dam Park. All tickets are $10. For reservations or more information, call 273-5151. The theater’s Web site is [link]
[link]

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There's something WRONG with us, something very very WRONG with us!