◆ “Ladies of Eola Heights,”
part of area theater lore, returns for a one-night screening Sunday at The Parliament House.
“Ladies of Eola Heights” has become part of Central Florida theater lore. Back in 2005, Michael Wanzie’s comedy about four sisters — played by men — packed ’em in at Orlando’s Parliament House.
Straight senior citizens flocked to the comedy, along with the gay resort’s more usual clientele. The play ended up running nine months, shattering Parliament House box-office records, and spawned a couple of sequels.
One of the performances of that original record-setting run was taped — and now Wanzie has pulled it from the vault for a one-night showing this weekend.
Although the play is very funny, it has a dark twist at its core. Another twist: All four sisters are played by men. Tommy Wooten plays hard-drinking Ruby, Doug Ba’aser is uptight Opal, Sam “Miss Sammy” Singhaus is dreamy June and Wanzie himself plays plainspoken Pearl.
Part of the fun is the local name-dropping that takes place through the show’s Orlando setting.
Lantern Light Studios captured the performance in a three-camera shoot with professional audio, Wanzie says.
Tickets are $10 ($12 cash at door) for open seating; $20 ($25 cash at door) for reserved seating with a complimentary treat from the concession stand; $25 ($30 at door) for the best seats in the house with popcorn and additional treats.
The screening begins at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The box office and lobby bar open an hour earlier. The Parliament House is at 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. For tickets, go to eventbrite.com.