Spring brings ‘Greener Pastures’ to Playhouse
For its third show of the season, Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tenn., is offering the world premiere of a comedy by the playwright who introduced “The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers” to Playhouse audiences last year.
Playwright Lori Fischer even took a lead role in the run of “Sparkley Clean,” which made its Southern debut at the Playhouse. Her new work is “Greener Pastures,” and she’s again appearing onstage as one of the characters.
“It’s always a joy to work with Lori, who’s one of our favorite playwrights,” says Producing Director Bryce McDonald, who also directs the show. “And I’m thrilled to be able to give Playhouse audiences the very first look at what I think is Lori’s funniest show yet.”
The residents of the fictional Greener Pastures Retirement Center in not-so-fictional Nashville have settled into their routines and seem quite content with their day-to-day lives. There are activities, friendships and flirtations. But everyone’s placid existence is suddenly shaken up when the thirty-something star of a children’s TV show spontaneously decides to take an early retirement and move in.
For 20 years, Dorothy Benton (Lauren Marshall) has been the star of “Lunchtime With Munchkins,” in which she’s now playing a singing brisket sandwich. But one day on the set, she decides she just can’t take another bad rhyme or silly lyric and quits, leaving her fellow food items in the lurch.
Meanwhile, at Greener Pastures, the audience is introduced to Alberta (Judy Murphy), Molly (Becky Coutras) and her daughter Sara (Fischer), administrator Mr. Raymond (Britt Hancock) and trumpet-playing political firebrand Maxine (Patty Payne), who’s carrying a not-so-secret torch for Wally (Bill Frey), her regular Friday night dance partner.
Out of the blue, Dorothy and her mother Bea (Carol Irvin) appear on the grounds, and Dorothy – after being told that the only requirements for moving in are “being retired and having insurance” — impulsively signs herself up. Of course, everyone assumes that Dorothy is enrolling her mother at the center and is shocked when Dorothy moves in the following day. Maxine is not pleased to discover that her new roommate is young enough to be her daughter and even less pleased when Wally and Dorothy start to hit it off.
Can Maxine rekindle the flame with Wally? Can Dorothy truly find happiness living in a center designed for senior citizens? And can these two unlikely roommates survive living with each other?
“Greener Pastures,” rated PG, runs through Friday, April 21. Also playing is Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” through Friday, March 31.