2 Photos
Drawing on deep reserves of theatrical flair and a sharp eye for originality, director Michael Disher is bringing three starkly different plays to the East End in a unique presentation package this winter.
“Private Lives,” “Twelve Angry Men” and “The Laramie Project” will take the stage at the Southampton Cultural Center in rapid, occasionally overlapping, succession during January and February—a dramatic trilogy that has not been attempted before on the East End, but one that Mr. Disher and his cast of 28 all-Long Island actors hope will be a sparkling success.
The first production, Noël Coward’s “Private Lives,” is a madcap British comedy set in the 1930s that opens Thursday, January 7, and runs through January 17.
The humorous plot revolves around a divorced couple, Elyot and Amanda, honeymooning with new spouses, unbeknownst to either of them, in adjoining suites in the south of France, to the hilarious consternation of all involved. The zany, three-act piece unfolds from there.
The Center Stage production stars Mark Anderson as Elyot and Logan Kingston as Amanda. Rounding out the cast are Michael Contino as Victor, Amanda’s new husband; Laura Ahrens as Elyot’s new wife, Sybil; and Agnieszka Patak as Louise.
Of the three plays, “Private Lives” is the only one that didn’t require auditions, Mr. Disher said, since he knew he could stage the show with these five actors.
Each production comes with its own unique set of challenges. “It’s like comparing a pet ferret to a pet cat to a pet turtle,” Mr. Disher said of his selection of plays of varying genres, settings and styles.
For “Private Lives,” the cast had to master the tongue-twisting challenges of speaking in historically accurate British English, a linguistic feat Mr. Disher says his actors have mastered, although it presented some difficulties initially. Almost any accent can be achieved with the proper training, he noted.
Timing, of course, presents additional hurdles.
Last-minute conflicts always throw “tremendous curve balls” Mr. Disher’s way, he said. Rehearsals may stretch for 10 to 12 hours on some days. Although he described the hectic timetable as a “plight he would not wish upon anyone,” Mr. Disher has once again stepped up to accept the challenge.
In the midst of winter, the East End’s slowest season, set against a sluggish economy, Mr. Disher is conducting a multi-layered experiment that arose more from spontaneity, he said, than from any eagerness to test to his personal stamina.
“The next time people come out in the summer and ask what you do in the winter here, you can tell them,” explained Mr. Disher, hoping to lure area theatergoers out of their homes during the off-season. Curious to see how local audiences will respond, Mr. Disher said he would consider it promising if each play were to attract 100 to 150.
Standing in front of the stage during a recent rehearsal, with two tables, an array of wooden chairs, two doors, a water cooler and some hangers dangling on an empty coat rack representing a medley of props from all three shows, Mr. Disher characterized the inspiration behind his idea: “It’s total lunacy.”
Despite the director’s assessment, the unique winter trilogy is not wholly without rhyme or reason. For one thing, it is an exploration into new ways of presenting theatrical offerings.
“Variety and opportunity were at the forefront in my thinking when I entertained this notion,” Mr. Disher elaborated. “Sometimes different strategies must be employed to excite audiences and actors ... At the very least, this has been an experience and experiment that I do not think will be readily duplicated—or forgotten.”
Mr. Disher, who views the theater as a melting pot of ideas and expressions, enjoys all three plays tremendously and is well acquainted with each, although he has not directed any of them before—adding another allure to bringing them to life now.
“Some have stated that this is nothing short of folly, unrealistic, not possible and ridiculous, while others have greeted this concept and described it as challenging, inspired, unique and revolutionary,” Mr. Disher wrote in his director’s notes. “… And the only honest answer I can come up with is that I have to do it, and I think the reasons are logical and sensible—with a dash of daring and pinch of folly to round out the recipe.”
The second play, “Twelve Angry Men,” a courtroom drama featuring an ensemble of 13 male actors, will run on January 21-24 and February 6-7.
“The Laramie Project” is an emotional tale chronicling the brutal 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, and the crime’s aftermath in the small town of Laramie, Wyoming. The Southampton production of “Laramie” features a cast of 16, many of whom also have roles in the other two plays. This play, which is based on interviews with Laramie residents, will be performed on January 28-31 and February 4-5.
In a touch of pure numeric coincidence, each of the three plays has three acts. Although Mr. Disher claims he is no numerologist, he also pointed to another coincidence involving multiples of three in the time frame for each of the plays, the 1930s, the 1960s and the 1990s, prompting this assessment from the director: “It’s been quite eyebrow-arching.”
“So many coincidences have befallen this entire process. Whether things have been calamitous or fortuitous, it is an experience I’ll never forget.”
As all the cast members strive to focus on a positive outcome, the director remains philosophical. “I must remind myself,” Mr. Disher concluded, “that sometimes great benefits are gained by taking chances.”
All “Triple Play” performances will be staged at the Levitas Center for the Arts at the Southampton Cultural Center at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton, across from Agawam Park. Shows are at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $22 for general admission or $10 for students under 21 with ID. On Thursdays only, there will be a senior rate (age 60 and over) of $15. Group rates are available and reservations are encouraged. For reservations or more information, call 631-287-4377 or visit www.southamptonculturalcenter.org.
on Jan 7, 2010