Groundbreaking RAAC Theatre production

Kudos to director Patty Hardee, stage manager Beth Plentovich, a wonderful cast and all of the many volunteers who helped bring a delightful production of Neil Simon’s, “The Odd Couple,” not only to the RAAC stage for three performances, but also, in a groundbreaking collaboration, to the Fauquier Community Theatre stage for another three performances this past weekend.

The show played to soldout houses at the RAAC theatre, after which the crew dismantled the entire set (cleverly designed for easy transport by Ron Makela) and carted everything to the FCT Theatre in Vint Hill for reconstruction. Fauquier audiences were equally charmed by the production, and the Fauquier Community Theatre is very enthused about future exchanges with RAAC’s theatre company.

The cast, which featured John Lesinski as Felix; Bob Hurley as Oscar; Petrina Huston and Deverell Pederson as the Pigeon sisters; and Andy Platt, Scott McMurtray, and Fauquier County residents Larry Finkel and Bob Stockmaster as the poker buddies, began rehearsals in late 2015. The countless hours of learning lines and rehearsing as an ensemble were certainly evident in the final product. Comic timing is so much more difficult than it looks, and this cast really got it down.

RAAC extends many thanks to all, and especially to Patty Hardee for her vision and her hard work to make this show and this collaboration a success.

This was a banner weekend for RAAC overall, with not only the successful theatre exchange, but with the highly successful Film Festival all happening at the same time. Lots and lots of work by many, many great volunteers!

SALLIE MORGAN RAAC Theatre Committee Chair