Betty's Summer Vacation Stages At Bay Street

Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor is now staging Christopher Durang’s darkly comic play, “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” through Sunday, July 31.

The play, directed by Trip Cullman, is an outrageous comedy about a young woman who spends the summer in a beach town but soon realizes that she has gotten herself into a nightmare of a summer share. Called shockingly and darkly funny by many of the actors who are cast in the Bay Street production, the play is about the tabloidization of Western culture and America’s fascination with tragedy and scandalous behavior.

And the East End is no exception, according to Bay Street’s Co-Artistic Director Sybil Christopher, who reported that theatergoers’ appetites for outrageous comedies such as “Betty’s Summer Vacation” are alive and well.

“Due to the incredible response from our audience for other over-the-top comedies such as ‘Romance,’ ‘Dinner’ and ‘Beyond Therapy’ [also written by Mr. Durang], Ms. Christopher said in a press release announcing the show, “we knew it was time to present one of Durang’s most outrageous comedies.”

Heidi Schreck stars as Betty, whom she describes as a “very sweet, normal girl who wants a peaceful vacation and ends up in an insane situation.” Betty ends up experiencing a summer she will never forget, whether she wants to or not.

The cast of main characters is rounded out by John Behlmann as Buck, a guy who “wants to have sex all the time,” according to Mr. Behlmann; Veanne Cox as Ms. Siezmagraff, “the landlady who is more than just the landlady,” according to Ms. Cox; and Tom Riis Farrell as Mr. Vanislaw, “the homeless, derelict flasher,” Mr. Farrell reported, adding that the landlady picks up his character while he’s taking photos in the ladies changing room at the beach. Celia Keenan-Bolger plays Trudy, Betty’s best friend, who is an “extremely talkative, neurotic, generous kook with bad judgment,” according to the actress. And Bobby Steggert plays Keith, a “shy, sweet guy,” he said, with a very dangerous secret.

The cast is rounded out by Jacob Hoffman, Kate O’Phalen and Tim Intravia and who play characters referred to as “Voice 1,” “Voice 2” and “Voice 3.”

Revealing any more about the motley crew of characters and the funny, though luridly ominous, plot would kill the surprise for those who haven’t yet seen the play, which Mr. Farrell described as “a screamingly funny, big-ass shock full of very dark social commentary.”

“Betty’s Summer Vacation” will stage at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor Tuesdays through Thursdays, through Sunday, July 31. The official opening night is Saturday, July 9, though preview performances will stage Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 6, 7 and 8. Show times are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Matinees will stage on Wednesdays, July 13, 20 and 27, at 2 p.m. and Saturdays, July 16 and 23, at 4 p.m. There will be a talkback with the cast after the show on Tuesday, July 12. Tickets are $55 and $65. For reservations, call the box office at 725-9500 or visit baystreet.org.