[Capdist-announce] Johnstown theatre to present staged reading of 'French' comedy

[wtruesdell at nycap.rr.com]

For Immediate Release
From: Colonial Little Theatre
For further info: Wally Truesdell, 725-3886

CLT to present premiere staged reading of ‘French’ comedy

JOHNSTOWN ---- Director Leta Aldous has announced the cast for the premiere staged reading in this country of “Hurricane Gin,” a new comedy by Carl Ritchie.

The two-act play will be presented Nov. 12 and 14, the first weekend of the 2010 New Play Festival of staged readings at the 1 Colonial Court, Johnstown theatre.

Written by Carl Ritchie of Craryville, Columbia County, the play was commissioned by a large summer theatre in Quebec, expressly to be translated in to French. It played last summer for two and a half months, and is being produced in two other Quebec theatres this summer under the title “La Cousine Germaine” (The First Cousin).

This will be the first time the play has been presented in English.

Thomas, Evelyn and their 16-year-old daughter Sophie are living a pleasant enough life that is suddenly interrupted by the imminent arrival of a distant cousin, Virginia (Gin). Evelyn is reluctant to take her in at first, until she learns that the cousin brings with her the chance to inherit a very large sum of money. She quickly changes tack and prepares her home for the arrival of her idea of an 80-year-old woman. When Gin does show up, however, along with her wig boxes, mink coats and high-heeled shoes, all bets are off. Stereotypes are turned on their heads. The family, as well as their elderly neighbor, Mister MacKenzie, learns they aren’t quite as with-it and up-to-date as they thought. Will they be able to withstand the onslaught of Hurricane Gin? 

The cast includes Rosanne Melita as Evelyn; Phil Carlson as Thomas; Hannah Fettinger as Hannah; Carol Russo as Virginia, and Don Wheeler as Mister KacKenzie.

 Performances of “Hurricane Gin” will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14.

The 2010 New Play Festival continues Nov. 19 and 20 with an evening of short plays by area authors. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. on both days. 

Reservations are not required for the festival. Admission will be by donation.

The producer is Theatre Workshop, the Colonial Little Theatre playwrights group. For further information: Wally Truesdell, wtruesdell at nycap.rr.com