The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Get ready for laughs in Berlin, Waterbury
Seniors take center stage in two comedies
Right now there are two fun comedies involving senior citizens, one in Berlin and one in Waterbury, that are well worth your attention.
Very few things are as private as your underwear. What you put on under your clothes is basically your business. But to senior citizen Sylvia Charles, her business is getting to the bottom of things, from your knickers to your knockers, in silk or feathers, satin or lace, and she is proud to be so intimately involved in your life. This feisty and innovative lady doesn’t want to play bridge or take a walk in the park. Now widowed, she wants to raise a few eyebrows and a few bucks and have a little frisky fun in the process.
To make Sylvia’s acquaintance, head over to the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre in Berlin for an intimate introduction to Katherine DiSavino’s comic “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” playing weekends until Saturday, May 5. Lori Feldman’s innovative Sylvia has managed to keep her enterprising activities private, away from the prying eyes of her best friend Vera, a nosy but hard of hearing Karen Gagliardi, her good friend Police Officer Tom, a helpful Josh Luszczak, and her landlord Mr Schmidt, an interferring Dave Wall who would like nothing better than to find a good cause to evict her from her rent controlled apartment.
Everything is under control and working well until the arrival of her granddaughter Bridget, a questioning Ashley Ayala, who gets quickly suspicious of her nana’s unusual activities. As a law school student, Bridget quickly figures out that Nana is hiding a big secret, one that is kinky as well as illegal and she wants it to stop. When the UPS men, Chase Fish and Russell Fish, start delivering packages of sex objects and a model Heather, a scantily clad Melissa Pelletier, arrives at the door, Bridget realizes she must act quickly before Officer Tom hauls Nana off to jail for tax evasion and Mr Schmidt discovers the perfect excuse to evict her for breaking her lease.
Luckily the arrival of Nana’s best customer Claire, a commanding Linda Kelly, arrives in the knick of time to save the day. Kris McMurray has
a lot of fun frolicking among the intimate apparel to great comic relief. For tickets ($30), call the CT Cabaret Theatre, 31 Webster Square Road, Berlin at 860-829-1248 or online at www.ctcabaretct.com. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7:15p.m. Bring goodies to share at your table or plan to buy them at the concession stand onsite.
Wear your fancy inner wear and your red or pink boas so you’ll feet right at home at Nana’s ingenious new take on the old fashioned Tupperware parties of old.
Meanwhile in Waterbury, there is another foray into the later years and the interesting complications of that mature crowd engender.
Parents spend a lifetime helping to guide and nourish their offspring from new born baby to fully grown adults. They never stop caring and insinuating their advice, whether welcomed or not. What happens, however, when the bassinet is turned and the child becomes the keeper of the reins, the one who wants and needs to call the shots, when the parent is in need of help. How resistant or accepting will the parent be to receiving advice from the child. If the parent is a cantankerous and opinionated Jack Korman, the ruler of his own destiny for seventy seven years, he will be resentful of any guidance his son Larry has to offer.
To witness the contretemps that blossom between the two men, mosey on over to the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury to see whose side you’ll take in Mike Vogel’s comedy “Second Chance” until Sunday, April 29. Larry feels his dad needs to make changes in his living arrangements. After living for fifty years in the same apartment and being widowed for some time, Jack is set in his ways. He lives for the Yankees and resents Larry interfering in his life style. Paul D’Amato’s Jack has no desire to change any thing, especially not to move into an assisted living facility. Jack Lafferty’s Larry is equally determined that his dad will change his residence and tricks him into agreeing to try out the new facility for a week.
Enter Marina Re’s Violet a spunky and sassy Welcoming Committee who literally sweeps Jack onto the dance floor and agreeing to move over in bed. With a ratio of 4 to 1, Jack is quickly in hot demand, much to the dismay of Warren Kelley’s Chet who deeply resents the new competition. Amanda Kristin Nichols’ Malka is a young nurse in the building who also has unique services to offer the newly arrived resident. Soon Jack is ready to admit he might have been wrong about relocating but lots of complications arise to make this a rocky road of decisions. Russell Treyz directs this foray into retirement life that ventures onto rough seas before it can level off into smooth sailing.
For tickets ($42-58), call Seven Angels Theatre, 1 Plank Road, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at www.sevenangelstheatre.org. Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Watch how a feeding frenzy of women setting their sights on newcomer Jack help him adjust to his new surroundings and make his transition to retirement life all the easier and more fun. Soon Jack is hitting his own homeruns, without any help from his beloved Yankees.
Enjoy either or both of these comedies that involve the unique problems of the more mature bunch. Who knows you might be experiencing the same predicaments yourself one of these days. It’s always better to laugh.