Theater company gears up for repertory season

Two comedies aiming for laugh-out-loud success are set to arrive next week at the Mulford Farm Museum in East Hampton. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged” opens on Tuesday, August 11; A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia” opens on Wednesday, August 12.

The plays will be performed in rotation daily (excepted Mondays) through August 30 on alternate days. “Sylvia” will be performed on even days in August (except August 24) and “Shakespeare: Abridged” on odd days (except August 17). The plays will be performed outside on the grounds of the historical museum, and picnics on the lawn are encouraged.

The plays are presented by the Mulford Barn Repertory Theater. the company founded last year by Kate Mueth of East Hampton, who is directing both productions. The comedies were selected as representative of the light theatrical fare that Ms. Mueth believes is perfect for summer.

Returning for a second summer is “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged.” It was written by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, a three-man troupe known for condensing long and serious plays and making them funny. (For more information, visit www.reducedshakespeare.com.) “Shakespeare: Abridged” presents all 37 of the Bard’s plays in a furious-paced romp. Departing from Shakespeare, the actors keep their own names, and current pop culture references are part of fun. The actors often speak directly to the audience and participation isn’t out of the question.

“I decided to bring it back for a second season,” Ms. Mueth said. “It’s perfect summer fare for the Hamptons—it’s so funny.”

“Shakespeare Abridged” premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987 and ran for 10 years at London’s Criterion Theatre. It’s currently touring the United States and will appear in Hong Kong in September.

“Sylvia” was written by A.R. Gurney, who has written extensively about the American WASPs and their quirks. The play wrings comedy out of a mid-life crisis as a husband brings a stray dog home to a couple’s empty-nest New York City apartment. The dog, Sylvia, quickly becomes the center of his attention and affection and the third corner in an unusual love triangle. Giving 
this unusual situation even more of a twist is that fact the dog is played by an actress. The character is clearly a dog but there no doubt she is also a woman.

“The play’s a funny one and I believe people will enjoy it,” Ms. Mueth said. “There’s more to it than that. I think it goes beyond what’s on the surface: a man having a mid-life crisis and the love that’s between a dog and its owner. By bringing the human and animal world together in a play, I think Gurney’s trying to say something about who we are as humans and hold that against the characteristics displayed by dogs. They’re loyal, always happy to see you and don’t judge. We don’t always come up to the same bar.”

While the plays are wildly different, there are plenty of similarities, Ms. Mueth said. Both make points about the human condition. “Shakespeare: Abridged” does so in a bawdy way. In “Sylvia,” there are plenty of occasions when lust for “an outsider” causes laughter and not pain.

Audiences attending both productions will notice another similarity: the cast is nearly the same. Forming the core of both plays are actors Joseph DeSane, Lydia Franco-Hodges and Gordon Gray. Rounding out “Sylvia” is actress Tina Jones. All of the actors live on the East End, at least part time. Three of the four are members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the union representing American actors and stage managers.

Having the same actors perform in multiple productions is typical in repertory companies, Ms. Mueth explained. Her ultimate goal is to solidify the Mulford Barn Repertory Theater as a recurring part of the Hamptons summer scene. This is the second year the fledgling repertory company is presenting theater. Ms. Mueth plans to present a third season and grow to include a student scholarship and children’s theater.

“I’m proud and excited to offer an Equity repertory company,” Ms. Mueth said. “I hope to see it grow and to expand our company, bit by bit.”

The Mulford Barn Repertory Theater opens its second season on Tuesday, August 11, with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged.” A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia” opens on Wednesday, August 12. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Reservations are encouraged as seating is limited. For ticket information, call 324-6850 or visit www.easthamptonhistory.org.