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The
article below appeared in the January 21, 2005, edition of the North Andover Citizen
Women
shine in play at The Stage
By Sally Applegate/ northandover@cnc.com
Friday, January 21, 2005
Hilarious barbs find their mark often in the sophisticated comedy produced by Acting
Out, running at a brand new theater space in Lawrence this weekend. Finding themselves the inspiration for a book based on their lives,
four women married to famous men shred each other, and the author, in the sparkling "The Supporting Cast." This clever cat
fight runs Jan. 21 and 22 at The Stage, at the corner of Island and South Union streets in Lawrence, in an intimate new theater
space.
Written by well-known playwright George Furth, who won a Tony Award for his book for Stephen
Sondheim's "Company," the dry and witty script sparkles as an author tries to get her four friends to sign waivers for the
book's release.
Acting Out actresses Lauren
Colarusso, Maura Daly, Kayla Villalobos and Katelyn Indigaro play the cuttingly catty women portrayed in the book, and Kate
Chomsky-Higgins plays the naughty author. The challenging play has been in rehearsal since October, with Chomsky-Higgins joining
the cast just seven weeks ago.
Co-directors Linda Schoonmaker
and Penny Kohut said they chose this play to give five actresses a chance to shine in leading roles. "This is a big deal for them," Schoonmaker said. "They're thrilled. They feel special,
and that's what I wanted for them. In so many plays girls just have a few lines, and often in high schools the same kids keep
getting picked for roles. "
The Broadway play, written
in 1981, turns out to be strangely in tune with recent news headlines. The directors have chosen to remove the script's references
to a tsunami, in deference to the thousands of victims of the December disaster in the Pacific. Remaining in the script are
warnings of an impending mudslide possibly endangering the Malibu Beach house where
the play's action takes place, an eerie echo of this month's fatal mudslide in California. Also,
thanks to some clever stage work and special effects, an unsettling earthquake, complete with aftershocks, jolts the cast.
The five young actresses deliver
vivid characterizations and fun physical comedy, including unplanned encounters with an unfortunately clean glass door they
keep slamming into. There is also a brawl for the book, as the women try to physically wrench it away from its author.
The cast gets to display fine
singing voices as they perform "Beach House Scheme," a delightfully offbeat song written for this production by Jeff Workman,
who also serves as the production's music director. Local
audiences may recall seeing many musical performances by these North Andover residents over the years.
This weekend's performances launch The Stage, a new performance area in Lawrence's arts district on Island Street. The intimate new theater is in the Essex Art Center, a beautifully renovated mill building at 60 Island St. in Bell Tower Square. Lawrence's new arts district is the result of work by the Lawrence Cultural Alliance, according
to Schoonmaker.
John Schoonmaker and Steve
Kohut built a large, solid platform stage, and were then joined by Sandi Pilt and Steve Daly as they constructed the set designed
by the show's co-directors. Rich Benedict coordinated the many sound effects heard during the production.
Linda Schoonmaker and Penny
Kohut say they are thrilled to be launching a brand new theater space. "Thanks to the generosity of [mill building owners] Chet and Gary Sidell, we are able to bring you this
theater experience," write the directors in their program notes.
"The Supporting Cast" runs
at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 22 at The Stage, 60 Island St., in Lawrence. Tickets are $8.
For more information on this
production, or for more details on the Acting Out Company, call 978-794-0001.
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