Watch out for Flying Monkeys at the Players Guild of Dearborn

Photo by:  Sue Suchyta

If you haven't seen the musical version of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Players Guild of Dearborn, don't wait too long -- the run is more than half over!  If you don't order your tickets soon, the Wicked Witch of the West might just send her Flying Monkeys to encourage you to drop in for a neighborly chat before all the sand runs through her hourglass! The show runs weekends through Dec.4, with 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday performances and 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees. For more information, call (313) 561-TKTS or go to http://www.playersguildofdearborn.org/.

Photo from "Til Beth Do Us Part" at the Players Guild of Dearborn

Photo by Sue Suchyta

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Patrick Denyer (left) as Gibby Hayden, Margaret Kinnell as Margo James and April Denny as Suzannah Hayden rehearse a scene from the Players Guild of Dearborn’s upcoming comedy, “Til Beth Do Us Part.” The show will run for three weekends, Jan. 13 to 29, 2012. For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

Actors ad-lib about "Til Beth Do Us Part" at the Players Guild of Dearborn

By SUE SUCHYTA

            The Players Guild of Dearborn started rehearsals for the comedy “Til Beth Do Us Part” last week, and lead actors April Denny and Patrick Denyer did some ad-libbing to offer an early look at what promises to be a very funny comedy.

APRIL’S NO FOOL

            April Denny of Dearborn Heights describes her character, Suzannah Hayden, as business woman who works for Carmichael’s Chocolates and who loves her husband but is becoming increasingly frustrated at his not helping her at all around the house.

            “She decides to take on an assistant to take on some of the duties, and the assistant has a tendency to run things into the ground to get them her way,” Denny said. “Comedy ensues, and mistaken identities and cross-dressing.”

EVERYBODY OUGHT TO HAVE A MAID

            Denny said that it would be fantastic to have someone come in and clean her house, walk her dog and do all the things she doesn’t want to do.

            She adds that people will enjoy “the comedy that is marriage.”

            “Marriage itself is a comedy no matter what you do,” Denny said. “It kind of highlights the trials and tribulations of marriage and divorce and what happens in and around all those things.”

            She is excited to be doing the show, and predicts audience members will be laughing a lot throughout it.

SEEING HERSELF IN THE ROLE

            “I can relate a lot to this character,” Denny said. “She’s a busy woman who schedules her time and takes care of everything and wants everything taken care of and sometimes unfortunately people get left in the lurch, and unfortunately that’s part of me, too.”

PATRICK DENYER DISHES – OR DOES HE?

            Patrick Denyer of Dearborn describes Gibby Hayden as a weatherman who is a benevolent husband and who loves his wife but is a slob.

            “He just doesn’t think about her needs at all,” Denyer said. “He lives his life… he loves her, he’s very happy, a very motivated person, and doesn’t see the train wreck that’s about to happen in his life.”

BREAK-OUT ROLE, OR LIFE IMITATING ART?

            Denyer added that this is the largest role he played at the Guild, and it really gives him a chance to be himself. He says sometimes he’s neater than Gibby, and sometimes he’s not.

            “Sometimes I have to be told what needs to be done,” Denyer said. “But I’m used to that – I’m used to having my better half organizing the family structure and the things that happen in the family home, and she’s very good at it, too.”

             

            For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

 

Rehearsal photo of "Til Beth Do Us Part" at the Players Guild of Dearborn

Photo by Sue Suchyta

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Margaret Kinnell (left) as Margo James, Patrick Denyer as Gibby Hayden and April Denny as Suzannah Hayden rehearse a scene from the Players Guild of Dearborn’s upcoming comedy, “Til Beth Do Us Part.” The show will run for three weekends, Jan. 13 to 29, 2012. For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

Director offers sneak peek at PGD's "Til Beth Do Us Part"

      

            By SUE SUCHYTA

           

            The Players Guild of Dearborn started rehearsals for the comedy “Til Beth Do Us Part” last week – and director Robb Stempek of Livonia offers a sneak peak at what he said is a very funny comedy.

            “Suzannah, who is climbing up the corporate ladder, is feeling frustrated by her husband’s lack of help around the house, so they get an assistant who turns their world upside down and eventually tries to get rid of the husband altogether because she wants (Suzannah’s) job,” Robb Stempek said. “Hilarity ensues, and there’s people dressing up in women’s clothing… it’s going to be great.”

            He said it is a family show, with farcical humor and nothing risqué.  

DIRECTOR FELL IN LOVE WITH IT

            “I was asked to read it and I fell in love with it,” Robb Stempek said. “It’s such a funny show. I’ve never seen a show do what this show does. A lot of shows will do old schtick that you’ve seen in other shows… this is all new stuff, fun little bits and pieces here that just make it really special.”

WILL YOU RECOGNIZE YOURSELF IN THE SHOW?

            He hopes audience members will recognize themselves in the show.

            “That’s kind of the plan,” Robb Stempek said. “Part of what makes it so funny. It’s almost like a situational comedy… You can put yourself in their shoes.”

            Frann Stempek of Taylor, the assistant director, said the show is about a couple who are “losing the magic in their marriage.”

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SHARES INSIDE INFORMATION

            “She’s very, very busy and he’s trying to find his way in their marriage, and her friend decides to bring someone into their life that’s going to – in the guise of helping (Suzannah) is going to shake up their relationship a little bit, and let them see how important they are to each other,” Frann Stempek said.        

            She said the friend does this intentionally, because she see Suzanna falling into the same rut that she and her husband fell into before they split up.

FOR ALL AGES

            She added that it is something that people of all ages would enjoy, and that the cast is very funny and imaginative in the way they portray the characters.

            The comedy will be performed for three weekends, Jan. 13 to 29, 2012, with 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows and 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees.

            For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

 

Players Guild of Dearborn announces "Til Beth Do Us Part" cast

GUILD ANNOUNCES “TIL BETH DO US PART” CAST

            The Players Guild of Dearborn announced the cast for the Jessie Jones, Nicole Hope and Jamie Wooten comedy “Til Beth Do Us Part” this week. Robb Stempek of Livonia will direct the show.

            April Denny of Dearborn Heights will play Suzannah Hayden, Patrick Denyer of Dearborn will play Gibby Hayden and Kori Bielaniec of Livonia will play the title role of Beth Bailey.

            Also in the cast are Margaret Kinnell of Wayne as Margo James, Ron Williams of Redford as Hank Russell and Linda Trygg of Westland as Celia Carmichael.

            The comedy will be performed for three weekends, Jan. 13 to 29, 2012, will 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows and 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees.

            For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

WSU Hilberry Theatre presents Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing"

Hilberry's "Much Ado About Nothing" is really something!

            The Hilberry Theatre Company’s exciting and innovative run of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Much Ado about Nothing” closes its four week run Nov. 19, so catch an 8 p.m. show before the stage goes dark.

RAIN LIMITS REIGN

            The graduate company shows at the Hilberry are usually performed in rotating repertory for several months, but because of the innovative set elements in “Much Ado about Nothing” – which include an onstage gravel catch basin for mid-show rain – the set needed to stay in place for the duration of the run.

WHERE TO GO

            The Hilberry Theatre is at 4743 Cass at Hancock on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit. For tickets and more information call (313) 577-2972 or go to http://www.hilberry.com/.

THE PLOT

            Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing” focuses on two couples and the rollercoaster ride of their attractions, as well as how both the treachery and loyalty of others can either ruin or strengthen their bonds of love. Fast-paced and full of fascinating characters, the show is a wonderful vehicle for the talented Hilberry Company.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

            Visiting director Matthew Earnest went beyond the basics and added many fascinating layers to the production that made it both thought-provoking and entertaining.

           

EASY ELIZABETHAN ENGLISH    

            The talented cast is very believable and easy to understand, and they have fun with the physicality of the show, which includes a colorful costume party, singing and dancing, and several plots cleverly wrapped around the scheming storyline.

THE WALL

            The dominate set piece, designed by Pegi Marshall-Amundsen, is a large green, foliage covered wall with multiple hidden windows and doors that reminds one of the iconic Laugh In television show set piece. In addition to allowing characters to rapidly pop in and out, it facilitates the smooth, seamless flow of scenes.

TWO BY TWO

            The two couples – bold Beatrice and Benedick, and contrastingly quiet Claudio and Hero,

are played respectively by talented and entertaining third year company members Vanessa Sawson, Dave Toomey, Christopher Ellis and Carollette Phillips respectively, providing the backbone of the storyline.

A STRONG SUPPORTING CAST

            The remarkable cast also includes Alec Barbour as Don Pedro, Christopher Call as Antonio, Danielle Cochrane as Margaret, Megan Dobbertin as Ursula, Brent Griffith as Leonato, Sara Hymes as Verges, Sharayah Johnson as the Sexton, Zach Johnson as Watch 2, Edmund Alyn Jones as Borachio, Andrew Papa as Don John, Topher Payne as Balthasar, Jonathan Pigott as Watch 1, Joshua Blake Rippy as Dogberry, David Sterritt as Conrade and Lorelei Sturm as Friar Francis.

CREATIVE COSTUMES

            While many of the costumes intentionally follow a beige or army fatigue camouflage color palette, which contrasts nicely against the leafy green set wall, the costume party – complete with animal masks -- provides costume designer Jessica Van Essen with a creative outlet.          

            For more information, call (313) 577-2972 or go to http://www.hilberry.com/.