Playcrafters presents ‘Clothes Encounters’ by Roger Karshner
In their end-of-summer line up, next for Playcrafters is a play with double entendre built right into the title — “Clothes Encounters” — a lighthearted 90-minute farce in two acts written by Roger Karshner.
When husband and wife real estate brokers Kathy and Alan Masters, played by Allison Fisher and Bryan Cassidy, are each preparing to show a home to clients, what they don’t expect is that they end up in the same neighborhood, at the same house.
“It’s hysterically funny… a lighthearted play,” said David Scott Howell of his directorial debut with Playcrafters. “While the premise may seem a bit contrived, it’s less important than the substance of the play… the witty lines and pacing.”
Potential home buyers, Betty and Ralph Parker, played by Alexis Leigh Ross and Michael Rizzo, who, in the interest of saving time, go their separate ways while searching for their perfect home so that later, they can compare notes on what they’ve found of interest. Oddly, it’s a multi-listed property they end up seeing, and neither Betty nor Ralph knows the other will be there. They end up at the same house, each with a different realtor, at the same time.
So what could go wrong, you ask?
Well, this is no ordinary house showing. While in the bathroom, something happens with the shower. We’ll leave that up to your imagination. Meanwhile, the whole house becomes a comedic, not-so-innocent concoction of misidentification, slapstick and sexual innuendo. Enter Heinz, the bumbling but well meaning handyman, played by David Deratzian, who is the innocent agent of chaos. His performance will have you tittering.
“There’s symmetry to the play,” said Howell in describing the scenes. “The substance comes through in the witty dialogue, running around and mistaken identity.”
Heads up, realtors and buyers: The next time you go to sell a house or if you’re looking to buy one, the scenes from this show will bring a smile to your face. Hopefully, neither buyer nor seller will end up having to explain the machinations of how a sexy negligee ends up in the picture. Sometimes, there’s more to the sale than just bricks and mortar.
“A non-stop evening of hilarious nonsense.” - The Portland Oregonian.
“The uproarious madness of this compelling farce leaves the audience limp with laughter.” - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Director, David Scott Howell; Producer and Assistant Director, Max Minkoff; BOD Advisor, Nancy Kadwill; Stage Manager, Courtney Katz.
If you go: Playcrafters presents “Clothes Encounters” at the Barn, 2011 Store Road at Skippack Pike, Skippack. Show dates are Sept. 27, 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17. For tickets, www.playcrafters.org or call 610584-4005.