Live theater returns to the Vanity Theater after a COVID-19 interruption since February 2020.
Friday the curtain goes up on an evening of intriguing comedy presented in four short acts jointly titled “All in the Timing.” Each of these acts is independent of the others and presented by its own cast. The plays are written by David Ives.
“My best way of explaining Ives work is to recall the opening of a ‘Twilight Zone’ episode, where ordinary people in ordinary places, were suddenly put in the most unusual circumstances,” said Keith Strain, executive director.
In the play, you will relive what it is like to meet a person by chance, only to find that everything you say is wrong, and you wish you had some way for a “do over”?
Then you will encounter someone for whom nothing is going right and she can’t get a handle on it, only to discover it’s not her, it is what she has fallen into.
Or you die, only you don’t get it right, so it keeps happening over and over.
Or someone suggested that if you give three apes typewriters and enough time they will type a Shakespearean play, but your mind wonders, “What do the apes talk about?”
The four casts include Marc Robinson, Angela Laughter and Heather Olin in “The Philadelphia,” Diana Durbin, Josh Hampton and Keith Strain in “Variations on the Death of Trotsky,” Amelia Eicher-Miller, Ana Rakita and Molly Edwards in “Words, Words, Words,” and Amanda Taylor and Keith James in “Sure Thing.”
The four directors are Angela Laughter, Keith Strain, Eric Margerum and Keith James are the directors. Three of them are directing for the first time at the Vanity.
The production is made possible through the sponsorship of Tri County Bank. Sponsors provide the seed money to start the production, which is most essential following 18 months without income from plays.
Out of concern for the health of both patrons and cast, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed.
Tickets need to be purchased in advance and are available online at sugarcreekplayers.org. Cost of tickets is $15 for adults, $12 for those under 16. One of the acts is rated PG-13 due to adult language. Show dates are Friday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 2 both at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 3. Doors will open 30 minutes before show time.
“Come on. You need a break. You need a laugh. You need a night out,” Strain said. “I am dying to see you at the theater (come and you’ll understand that reference).”
