Friday, June 06, 2008

Review: Who's on First?

Tonight I attended the opening night performance of DIRT's production of Who's on First, a wonderful entertaining comedy by Jack Sharkey. The play itself was very good with a quick pace and witty dialog. Add a wonderful performance space, a simple set that was very effective, costumes that transitioned well into various roles with a minimum of fuss and talented actors with a lot of energy and you have a show that is delightful.

The show is directed by Mary Ellen Petti, Set and Lighting by Kevin Larsen and Niall Tinney, and sound by "Big Jay" Fink. Performers were Alison Bernhardt, Matt Meinsen, Brian Petti & Mary Ellen Petti.

The Show is running weekends at the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre in East Durham through June 22. If you have the opportunity, take in this gem of a show in a picturesque little town. For more info visit the webpage for the Durham Irish Repertory Theater.

About the Show:
Take a husband, wife, lover and friend, add a strange lamp, a gun and a rubber chicken plus a party that begins at 8 p.m., then again at 8 p.m. and then again at 8 p.m. and you have this nightmare comedy." Four people find themselves reliving one horrible hour over and over as themselves, as Japanese, as British aristocrats, as gangsters, and almost anything else you can think of. Camille is giving the party. Don shows up in a jealous funk about his wife, Alice, whom he suspects of seeing another man. When Alice and Ben have arrived, it turns out their relationship is innocent. But by the time Don realizes this he has already shot Ben, Alice and even Camille. Camille wishes that things might have turned out differently and that is what happens. All concerned find themselves back at the party's beginning again and again doomed to live that same hour over and over again until they get it right. Is it all an accident? Or is their dilemma part of someone's fiendish plan? A labyrinth of hilarity exits to a shocker of an ending.

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