[Capdist-announce] Colonial Little Theatre to present '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 ---- Theatre Workshop, the Colonial Little Theatre playwrights group, will present the premiere staged reading in this country of the adult comedy “Hurricane Gin,” Nov. 12 and 14 at the 1 Colonial Court, Johnstown theatre.

Directed by Leta Aldous, the two-act play will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, the first weekend of CLT’s 2010 New Play Festival.

Written by Carl Ritchie, 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).

A native of New Brunswick, Canada, the author currently resides in Craryville, Columbia County.

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 Sophie; Carol Russo as Virginia, and Don Wheeler as Mister MacKenzie.

The play is not suitable for children.

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.

For further information: Wally Truesdell, wtruesdell at nycap.rr.com