THE LOST RAMBLERS BRING LIVE BLUEGRASS TO TRI-STATE ACTORS THEATER

The Lost Ramblers will perform
at Tri-State Actors Theater on
Saturday, July 12 at 8pm.
Call 973 875-2950 for
tickets.
 

Sussex...The Lost Ramblers will perform in concert at Tri-State Actors Theater on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 pm.
The band offers high-energy, foot-tapping beats, tight harmonies, and boasts a repertoire that is as entertaining
as it is eclectic. They specialize in authentic Appalachian acoustic sounds, and their performances run the
gamut from bluegrass and gospel, to swing, Irish, and favorite old-timey music. The concert will be held
in the air-conditioned mainstage of the historic, Crescent Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex, New Jersey. The Lost
Ramblers put on a fun and entertaining show for the whole family. The Lost Ramblers have been playing and
promoting bluegrass in and around northeastern PA and northwestern NJ since about 1978, when Neil Morris,
Pete Papallardo and John Updike ("the other John Updike") first got together to pick and sing. A few years ago,
the guys decided to throw their hat in the ring and go for broke, with their own nonprofit organization, visit their
website at http://www.poconobluegrass.org, devoted to bringing Bluegrass and other acoustic sounds to everybody.
They started their very own "Winterfest" a three-day bluegrass festival in Stroudsburg, PA, to add to the monthly
"Shindigs" they’ve been running for some time, and have appeared at festivals throughout the East. If you've been to
the Peters Valley Craft Festival during the past few years, or visited Winterfest and the many other Bluegrass festivals
in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you've heard these fine players. The band’s talented and highly skilled musicians
are known for their mastery of multi-instrumental acoustics and three-part harmonies. The Lost Ramblers have been
performing regionally and nationally for over twenty years. Their music has been featured on TV, videos, radio, and
on recordings.

Get your seats now for this family friendly, musical funfest at Tri-State. Curtain time for The Lost Ramblers opens
8 pm on Saturday, July 12. All seats are $20 each. Large print programs, wheelchair access and elevator service
are available for patrons with special needs. Reservations are recommended for all performances. For tickets,
information, and special services, please contact the Box Office at 973 875-2950. Main Street parking is limited
and patrons are encouraged to use the free municipal parking lot on Harrison Street, directly behind the theater.

Additional information about Tri-State Actors Theater and its programs and services are available on the web at
http://www.tristateactorstheater.org. Funding for Tri-State Actors Theater has been made possible in part by a grant
from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment
for the Arts and the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
 

Too bad Simon was right about this 'Girl'
by Peter Filichia/The Star-Ledger
Sunday June 22, 2008, 9:28 PM

The Star-Spangled Girl
Where: Tri-State Actors Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex
When: Through July 6. Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
How much: $30 ($20 Thursdays). Call (973) 875-2950 or visit
tristateactorstheater.org

In his first memoir, Neil Simon called it "a play that I wasn't very fond of. It
didn't ring true. It wasn't good enough." Those opinions haven't discouraged
director Paul Meacham from mounting Simon's self-proclaimed lackluster
effort, the 1966 comedy "The Star-Spangled Girl," at his Tri-State Actors
Theater in Sussex. Simon was right. The saddest part of the evening is that
Meacham directs splendidly, with a cast that couldn't be better. Only
l-r:Bill Edwards as Norman, Misty Foster        the play disappoints -- and mightily.
as Sophie, & Clark Gookin as Andy
Andy Hobart is the publisher of Fallout magazine, a money-bleeding, counter-cultural, anti-war publication. He fields
endless phone calls from his creditors, which result in his equally endless excuses. Then Andy tries to convince the
collectors that they've reached a wrong number. Simon apparently hoped that if he repeated these phone calls
enough, eventually he'd come up with a funny bit. He didn't. Norman Cornell is Fallout's editor, not to mention its
writer, columnist and proofreader. He's able to do all those jobs, but what does him in is swimmer Sophie
Rauschmeyer, the pretty Olympic hopeful who moves next door. Simon delivers two hours of Norman making an
idiot of himself over Sophie -- perpetually talking about her demeanor, her aroma and, of course, her looks (leading
to such lines as "She has the most magnificent earlobes on the face of the earth"). Norman exclaims each with the
excitement level of an electroshock therapy session. Andy and Norman are supposedly political, yet Simon doesn't
show that side of them. These two clowns are unconvincing as the guys who say they finished first and second
respectively in their class at Dartmouth. Andy tells Sophie that Norman was recruited by Life, Look and the
Saturday Review, but there's nothing to show us why.

Norman's super-hyper blather can't be easy for an actor to sustain, but Bill Edwards does superbly in
keeping up the frenzy. Looking like Ellen DeGeneres' twin -- and sharing her sense of comic timing --
Clark Gookin excels as Andy. Gookin enlivens things, too, in showing Andy's exhaustion from his
landlady's attempts to romance him. That brings up another problem with the script: Everything interesting
that happens to Andy occurs off-stage. We only hear about it.

Deep in the play, Sophie has a line, "I am honest about my emotions, and that's the only way I know
how to be." Misty Foster apparently has taken this as her cue to deliver a no-nonsense, straight-laced, 
level-headed characterization. She succeeds.

Meacham keeps all three performers running at a crazed pace, all over the cluttered, charming and
convincing dump of a set that he designed, too. His wife, Patricia Meacham, also gets into the act,
designing costumes that are spot-on for the period.

Really, it's only Simon who's let Tri-State down.

Times Herald Record--Lifestyle
Who's That 'Girl'? Cause for laughs at Tri-State Actors Theater
Play review: 'The Star-Spangled Girl' at Tri-State Actors Theater in Sussex, N.J.

By James Cotter

June 13, 2008
    

Sussex, N.J. --- Three's a crowd in Neil Simon's slapstick comedy "The
Star-Spangled Girl" at the Tri-State Theater.Andy Hobart and Norman
Cornell publish an offbeat protest magazine called Fallout from their
cramped San Francisco apartment; it's 1966 and a typical article is titled
"Is LBJ on LSD?" Norman writes and Andy manages the shoestring operation:
"Let me worry about the bills," Andy declares; "you write the magazine." Of course, they are broke and cannot pay
the printer or landlady.

Enter Sophie Rauschmeyer. She has just moved into the apartment next door and brings the boys a rum cake that

she cannot eat because she is in training for the Olympic swimming team. Starry-eyed Norman is instantly enthralled.

Sophie, however, is engaged to a Marine officer and wants to have nothing to do with the madcap Norman. He buys her

gourmet food that she finds inedible; he mops up her floor after she has waxed it; and he stalks her at work at the YWCA

where she is a swimming coach, causing her to be fired. Sophie also feels that Fallout is subversive, repulsive and

representative of everything she opposes.

In this collision course, Bill Edwards makes Norman a crazy character who explodes with emotion at the
mere sound of his beloved's voice. He records her speaking his name and plays it over and over. As Andy,
Clark Gookin tries to be reasonable with his partner but soon grows desperate when the lovesick Norman no longer
has time to write. Gookin is truly comic as a sunburned sufferer who has been out all day at the beach with
the elderly landlady as a way of avoiding payment of rent, only to return to a scene of chaos between ardent Norman
and frantic Sophie.

As Sophie, Misty Foster looks and acts the part of an all-American girl with a Texan drawl who is, in Andy's
eyes, "a flag-waving sea urchin." At first a self-described "nervous wreck," she becomes just as physical and loud
as the two men who attempt to dominate her and is more than a match for them in the increasingly intense
confrontation. In her miniskirts, Foster is also attractive enough for one to see why Norman falls head over
heels in love at first sight. There are some unforeseen developments in Act 2 that the actors handle with believable
earnestness and humor. Director Paul Meacham prepares for these changes with dramatic contrasts and
fast-paced dialogue. There's never a dull moment in this energetic revival of Simon's 1960's comedy.

For the Fourth of July, the show will be preceded by a picnic celebration outside in the historic town square.

TRI-STATE ACTORS THEATER PRESENTS THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL

Sussex…What happens when you combine a plot that includes the all-American girl
next door with a lovesick writer and a harried editor? Neil Simon’s THE STAR-
SPANGLED GIRL! Tri-State Actors Theater will present Simon’s comedy, a love
triangle mixed with politics, June 11 through July 6, at the historic Crescent Theater,
74 Main St., Sussex.

Set in San Francisco in the 1960s, Andy Hobart (played by AEA member, Clark Gookin)
and Norman Cornell (played by AEA member, Bill Edwards) are two radical liberals
struggling to make a living working on their magazine, Fallout, which is dedicated to fighting
"the system" in America. Sophie Rauschmeyer (played by Misty Foster) is a former Olympic
swimmer who moves into the apartment next door.

Norman immediately falls in love with Sophie, but his feelings are not shared. Norman's obsession with Sophie
inspires Andy to hire her just to keep the magazine going. When Sophie falls in love with Andy, the magazine
and the men’s friendship are threatened. The situation ends happily as love and politics blend in a series of funny
happenings set forth with the masterly skill and inventiveness that are the hallmarks of playwright Neil Simon.

THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL opens with a preview performance at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, June 11; all
seats are $20.00. The play continues through Sunday, July 6. Opening Night is Friday, June 13. The
performance is followed by a “Meet the Artist Reception” and refreshments will be served. Tickets for all
Thursday evenings are also $20.00. Tickets for Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sunday matinees
at 3 pm are $30 regular admission, $27 for senior citizens and $20 for students. The Sunday matinee on June
29 will be followed by a post-performance talk back with the actors and Artistic Director, Paul Meacham.
A pre-show outdoor cookout will be held prior to the performance on Friday, July 4 and is included in the
price of admission.

Large print programs, wheelchair access and elevator service are available for patrons with special needs.
Reservations are recommended for all performances. For tickets, information, and special services, please
contact the Box Office at 973 875-2950. Main Street parking is limited and patrons are encouraged to use
the free municipal parking lot on Harrison Street, directly behind the theater.

Additional information about Tri-State Actors Theater and its programs and services are available on the web
at http://www.tristateactorstheater.org. Funding for Tri-State Actors Theater has been made possible in part by
a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National
Endowment for the Arts and the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

TRI-STATE ACTORS THEATER PRESENTS THE WIZARD OF VERSE
 
Sussex…Saturday, May 17 will be a busy day on Main Street in Sussex and throughout the borough. Tri-State Actors
Theater will begin its day with an outdoor table at the Borough wide yard sale on Saturday (and also, Sunday.) Young
performers, 13 to 18, are invited to audition for Tri-State Summer Intern program, Charlotte’s Web the Musical from
1:00 to 5:00 pm. And Tri-State ends the day hosting the Delaware Valley Opera at 8:00 pm. All events will be held at
the historic Crescent Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex.
  
The Delaware Valley Opera, under the new artistic leadership of Jim Blanton, has been presenting quality opera and
Broadway productions in the Delaware Valley region for over 20 years. Performing at the charming Tusten Theater in
Narrowsburg, NY, Seelig Theatre at the Sullivan County Community College and Ritz Theatre in Hawley, PA, the
company presents regionally and nationally known singers in its celebrated Summer Festival and in school and community
outreach programs.
 
The Wizard of Oz, Finian's Rainbow and Brother, Can You Spare a Dime ? are just a few of many familiar titles
presented in a program of Broadway and popular songs with lyrics by Yip Harburg. The distinguished area performers of
The Delaware Valley Opera include pianist and director Jim Blanton, mezzo soprano Carol Diefenbach, soprano Jody
Weatherstone and bass baritone Eric Barsness. Breathing new life into "hit" songs from the not-so-distant past, the
performers delight audiences young and old with Somewhere Over the Rainbow, It's Only a Paper Moon, April in Paris and
many more favorites by the master wordsmith. For those who find today's music a bit "shocking," Blanton's rendition of
Lydia, the Tattooed Lady proves that pushing the musical envelope did not begin with songs from the 1960's! Yip
Harburg’s prolific output spanned the 1930's into the 1970's. Collaborating with such composers as Harold Arlen
and Burton Lane, Harburg became famous in the Hollywood, Broadway and popular music realms. He lived not only in New
York and Beverly Hills, but resided for a while in nearby Deerpark, NY, where he wrote the lyrics to his first hit,
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? For more information on the Delaware Opera, call 845-252-3136.
 
Tickets for the Delaware Valley Opera at Tri-State are $20.00 each. The theater is wheel chair accessible. On
street parking for Saturday, May 17 may be limited due to yard sale. Patrons are encouraged to use the free municipal
parking lot on Harrison Street, directly behind the theater. Please call the Box Office at 973 875-2950 to order your
tickets or for additional information on Tri-State’s 2008 Season.

Examining a multi-faceted 'Glass Menagerie'

by Peter Filichia/Star-Ledger Staff

Friday April 18, 2008, 10:00 PM

The Glass Menagerie. Where: Tri-State Actors Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex. When: Through May 11.
Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. How much: $20 Thursdays, $30 all other performances.
Call (973) 875-2950 or visit tristateactorstheater.org.
  
No sooner does one fascinating production of "The Glass Menagerie" close than another one opens.
  
Fresh on the heels of Two River Theater Company's success with Tennessee Williams' 1944 classic,
the Tri-State Actors Theater of Sussex stages a production that also opts for something new.
  
One could be cynical and say the reason the play is so often chosen is that its one set and four characters
don't break the bank. But just as Robert Rechnitz at Two River showed he had a new idea in mind, so does
director Paul Meacham here.
  
 While Rechnitz had a new, proactive slant for Laura -- the physically and emotionally disabled young woman
whose life is passing her by -- Meacham is more interested in her brother Tom, the unhappy warehouse worker
who's yearning to break free of his home. Tom is the narrator of this "memory play," as he calls it. He draws us
into the story of his mother Amanda, who puts on a happy face much of the time, but is aware that "the future
becomes the present, the present becomes the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret."
 
Tom is mostly portrayed with shame in place as he begins narrating: He isn't proud of how he deals with his
destitute and demanding mother and his loving but fragile sister. However, actor Bill Edwards starts off blithely,
as if he were telling the story of a family he never knew.
  
That sounds as if it were a mistake, but Edwards and Meacham know what they're doing. In the final scene, the
actor reaches a day-of-reckoning moment when he can no longer sustain his cavalier approach. Many Lauras
have been close to nervous breakdowns in other "Glass Menageries"; here's one in which Tom shares her pain
and the danger of cracking.
 
Katie Tame's Laura shows more delicacy than usual, especially in the scene where she recalls hearing that the
boy she loved unrequitedly in high school became engaged. Though Tame is a young actress, she has the ability
to make her face look careworn beyond her years.
 
As Amanda, Mary Ann Hay expertly conveys the Southern belle charm that allows the audience to believe that,
yes, there was a time when no fewer than 17 men showed up at her door one afternoon. Usually, at play's end,
Amanda ferociously lashes out at Tom and doesn't care if she hurts Laura's feelings. Hay pauses before this
moment comes, and shows a mother's unconditional love instead.
 
Unfortunately, Gordon Gray, as the gentleman caller whom Tom brings home for Laura, comes off more as a
glad-hand, even a con-man who needs to be taken down a peg. Laura's better off without him.

Review: THE GLASS MENAGERIE
THE TIMES HERALD RECORD
by Marcus Kalipolites

Laura may be a crippled and shy young lady and mother Amanda may live the fantasy of being a sought-after
Southern belle who boasts about past gentlemen callers, but it falls on Tom to provide for this dysfunctional
family during the Great Depression. And so it is, that in playing the $65-a-month warehouse worker Tom, as
played by Bill Edwards, not only escapes his mother's constant criticism by going to the movies but, in the
end, he imitates his father's decision to desert the family as well. In Wednesday night's performance, Edwards
displayed commanding presence in capturing every nuance of his character's various moods.

While his taxed-to-the-limit character exhibits hate for a carping mother, an altogether different Tom shows
empathy for Laura. Sibling affection finds the two of them cheerfully sharing the re-creation of a magician's
kerchief trick. In returning the favor, Laura lovingly tucks a drunken Tom in bed.

Looming large in the mind of Edwards' character is the prospect of adventure. Fueled by movie addiction, he
"bubbles on the inside" to live a different life. Tom tells this to fellow worker and dinner guest Jim O'Connor —
who has been invited to the Wingfield residence by Tom after pressure by Amanda to find a "gentleman caller"
for Laura.

In playing Amanda, Mary Ann Hay creates with Southern accent a giddy character who prattles on and on about
all the beaus she had as a young woman. Dates with her own "gentlemen callers" are revisited as Amanda
glowingly whirls around the living room while showing off her flowery gown of yesteryear. Charm to impress a
guest, however, does not become a woman who otherwise screams at her son with fury enough to find Laura
cringing in fear.

In playing the clinging vine, Katie Tame creates a woman whose shy appearance, slightly hunched body and
limping movements all contribute to the picture of a student unable to continue typing courses in a business
school. But beyond insecurity, Tame's character also panics at the anguish of facing her secret high-school
crush before answering the doorbell but later beams exhilaration after being kissed by him.

Rounding out the polished cast is Gordon Gray, who easily fills the role of self-assured Jim, the high-school idol
of past successes in music, sports and girls.  Notwithstanding future promise, however, the boastful Jim continues
to work in the warehouse

Directed by Paul Meacham, this production shows off fine acting within a layout of modest furniture, period
costumes and occasional dance music emanating from the Paradise Lounge across the alley. Completing the
picture of inner-city life are a fire escape, apartment buildings on each side and above.

Bill Edwards as Tom Wingfield looks back at
his family, Katie Tame as Laura and MaryAnn Hay
as Amanda in Tri-State Actors Theater's season opener,
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. April 16
through May 11, 74 Main St., Sussex, New Jersey. 973 875-2950


TRI-STATE ACTORS THEATER PRESENTS
THE GLASS MENAGERIE

Sussex, NJ...Tri-State Actors Theater opens its 21st anniversary season on Wednesday, April 16 with the
Tennessee Williams' THE GLASS MENAGERIE, directed by Artistic Director Paul Meacham, at the historic
Crescent Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex, NJ. Williams' masterpiece is one of the most haunting and delicate
plays of the American theater and introduced Williams as one of the preeminent American playwrights of the
20th century. This semi-autobiographical account of Williams' early days in 1930' s St. Louis is heartbreaking
yet often funny. As revealed in the opening lines of the play, The Glass Menagerie is told through the memory
of Tom Wingfield (Bill Edwards*), a restless soul trapped in a stifling factory job as the reluctant breadwinner for
a family abandoned by his father. His mother, Amanda (MaryAnn Hay*), once a grand Southern socialite,
struggles to regain her former glory through her children, while her painfully shy daughter Laura (Katie Tame*)
retreats from the world's harsh realities into her collection of tiny glass animals. The arrival of a "gentleman caller"
(Gordon Gray) could be a sign of hope ... or a disturbance that will shatter their fragile home. (Mr. Edwards, Ms.
Hay and Ms. Tame are all members of Actors' Equity Association.)

In an interview Tennessee Williams once stated, "I have always been interested in creating a character that
contains something crippled. They have a certain appearance of fragility, these neurotic people I write about,
but they are really strong." The Glass Menagerie was the playwright's first critical success when it opened in
Chicago in 1944 and premiered on Broadway in 1945. Following its New York premiere, the play won the New
York Drama Critics' Circle (Williams' first of four) and a Pulitzer Prize (Williams' first of two); it was revived on
Broadway in 1965 and again in 1983.

The Glass Menagerie opens with a preview performance at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, April 16; all seats are $15.00.
The play continues through Sunday, May 11. Opening Night is Friday, April 18. The performance is followed by
a "Meet the Artist Reception" and refreshments will be served.

Evening performances are Thursdays, April 24 and May 8; tickets are $20.00. Tickets for Friday and Saturday
evenings at 8 pm and Sunday matinees at 3 pm are $30 regular admission, $27 for senior citizens and $20 for
students. The matinee on Sunday, May 4 will be followed by a post-theater talk back with the actors and Artistic
Director, Paul Meacham, to examine the themes and issues of the play.

Large print programs, wheelchair access and elevator service are available for patrons with special needs.
Reservations are recommended for all performances. For tickets, information, and special services, please
contact the Box Office at 973 875-2950. Main Street parking is limited and patrons are encouraged to use the
free municipal parking lot on Harrison Street, directly behind the theater.

Additional information about Tri-State Actors Theater and its programs and services are available on the web at
http://www.tristateactorstheater.org. Funding for Tri-State Actors Theater has been made possible in part by a
grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National
Endowment for the Arts and the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
   
STUART LITTLE RETURNS FOR FAMILY WEEK AT THE THEATRE
   
SUSSEX… The New Jersey Theatre Alliance and Tri-State Actors Theater will present
Tri-State’s Student Intern production of STUART LITTLE, the musical at 11:00 am and
2:00 pm on Saturday, March 8. The performances are part of the 11th Annual Family Week
at the Theatre, a yearly event that provides free and discounted theatre programming during
the second week of March. Performance tickets will be offered at one free child’s ticket (ages
3 to 11) with a paid regular ticket (ages 12 and over) at $10.00. Children’s tickets are $8.00.
Performances will be held at the historic Crescent Theater, 74 Main Street, Sussex.

The many adventures—both big and small—of Stuart Little are brought vividly to life in
this story theatre presentation of E.B. White's classic tale about a little mouse born
into a normal New York family. The story has been adapted for the stage by Joseph
Robinette, with music by Ronna White and lyrics by Joseph Robinette and Ronna White. The acting ensemble plays
"many human and animal roles in a series of delightful scenes that make up the marvelous maneuverings of a mild-
mannered mouse trying to survive in a "real people's world." From melodic ballads to exciting chorus numbers, the
score by England's Ronna Frank features such delightful songs as "Paddle Your Own Canoe," "Feed Him Up," "Size,"
"Stuart Little," "I'm Headed in the Right Direction" and "Nighttime in New York" (sung by a quartet of cats!).

Family Week at the Theatre is an annual statewide event offering free and discounted tickets to attendees, and
was developed to encourage families to attend professional theatre together by making the experience affordable,
educational and exciting. Across the state, in all 21 counties, young people will receive free tickets to over 100
performances and special events including free classes, workshops and backstage tours. Since its inception in
1998, the program has served over 45,000 people with professional theatre performances and activities. In honor
of its eleventh year, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance is expanding programming beyond one week to make this
the most accessible and enjoyable year to date. This year, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance invites residents to
experience the month of March in STAGES: Sharing Theatre Arts with Generations through Events Statewide.

The New Jersey Theatre Alliance provides a wide variety of programs and services for the state’s professional
theatres and the audiences who enjoy them. Family Week at the Theatre is a co-sponsored project of The New
Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts
and Discover Jersey Arts. Additional support has been provided by Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, Bank of
America, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The F.M. Kirby Foundation, Fund for New Jersey Blind, The
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, The George Ohl, Jr. Trust, Johnson and
Johnson, The New Jersey Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the New Jersey Library Association, New
Jersey Monthly, New Jersey State Library, The Prudential Foundation and WNYC.

Reservations are necessary for all performances. For more information or to order tickets, call the box office at 973
875-2950. Tri-State Actors Theater is located at 74 Main Street, Sussex, New Jersey. To receive a full schedule of
events for Family Week at the Theatre (March 8-16, 2008) please call 1-800-THE-ARTS, or visit
http://www.familyweek.com. Large print programs, wheelchair access and elevator service are available for patrons
with special needs. Main Street parking is limited and patrons are encouraged to use the free municipal parking lot
on Harrison Street, directly behind the theater. Additional information about Tri-State Actors Theater and its programs
and services are available on the web at http://www.tristateactorstheater.org. Funding for Tri-State Actors Theater has
been made possible in part by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner
Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

TRI-STATE ACTORS THEATER ANNOUNCES 2008 SEASON
 
Sussex…As Tri-State Actors Theater launches into its twenty-first season in
2008, audiences can expect the best season in the theater’s history. Acting
classes for children, teens, and adults have already begun, our New Plays
Reading Series will present new challenging works throughout the season, the
theater’s special events will entertain audiences with a wealth of musical talent,
and our special matinee performances for students will bring young audiences the
best of American and classical drama. In order to insure that more area audiences
get to view Tri-State’s productions the run of each show will be extended from three "
to four weeks.
       
Sailing into its new season with a great story, Tri-State is reviving its acclaimed hit family show, STUART LITTLE, the
Musical, as part of the state-wide Family Week at the Theatre, for two performances only on Saturday, March 8.
The Tri-State Youth Company will again present this delightful tale of Stuart Little, the mouse son of the Little family,
with music and song.
     
April and May bring a great American playwright back to Tri-State in the production of Tennessee Williams’ THE GLASS
MENAGERIE. Praised world-wide as the quintessential family drama, THE GLASS MENAGERIE stars three veteran Tri-State
performers, Mary Ann Hay in the monumental role of Amanda, and Katie Tame as her fragile daughter, Laura. Because
this magnificent play is often studied in schools, special matinees for students have been added to the performance schedule.
Call 973-8785-2950 to reserve groups for these special matinees.
   
Tri-State will also present the incredible Delaware Valley Opera in May for one performance only on Saturday, May 17,
in their acclaimed salute to YIP HARBURG, the lyricist who gave the world the film THE WIZARD OF OZ with his
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow, ” "We're Off to See the Wizard," and more. Other popular hits include “It’s only a Paper
Moon,” and “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? " which became the anthem of the Great Depression. This program is
for age twelve and over.
 
The master of laughter, Neil Simon takes a bow at Tri-State in June and stays for July 4th with his delightful summer
farce, THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL. This fast moving, hilarious comedy, deals with two earnest young men struggling
to put out a "protest" magazine, and the all-American girl who moves in next door and manages to send both of them
into a romantic tail spin. Coming out of the conflicted years of the 60’s, love and politics blend delightfully in a bubbling
series of funny happenings, set forth with the masterly skill and inventiveness that are the hallmarks of Neil Simon.
 
July also heralds the Tri-state debut of one of the finest acoustic bands around: THE LOST RAMBLERS come to
Tri-State for the first time in a one-night stand on Saturday, July 12, that will prove to be the best night of Bluegrass
(and more!) that will leave audiences cheering for encores.
 
Tri-State’s Youth Acting Company returns in August to perform CHARLOTTE’S WEB with an all-new ensemble of
players. This exciting, musical version of CHARLOTTE’S WEB brings a new dimension to E.B. White's beloved
"classic. With music and lyrics by Charles Strouse (ANNIE, 'BYE, 'BYE BIRDIE) and book by Joseph Robinette
(national award-winning children's playwright) audiences will thrill to the very special experience of this rollicking
musical version featuring Wilbur the pig, Charlotte, Fern, and all the delightful characters.
 
New Play Readings and the final special event of the 2008 season fill the month of September. On September 27,
Tri-State welcomes back the incomparable guitarist, GLENN ZERVAS, with his ensemble of friends who accompany
his unique and inspiring guitar sounds.
 
October is “Ghosts and Ghouls” month at Tri-State, as the theater hosts the scariest ghost play ever presented—
THE WOMAN IN BLACK. A haunting tale of mystery and suspicion, HE WOMAN IN BLACK explores the chilling
past of Arthur Kipps. But as the characters delve further they begin to uncover incidents that cannot be directly
explained--chilling, scary fun! Audiences and critics alike have reveled in the terror of THE WOMAN IN BLACK.
It’s been called a “good old-fashioned ghost story that is virtually guaranteed to scare you . . .” and “a genuine,
copper-bottomed audience-pleaser [full of] spine-tingling, blood-curdling screams." One playgoer warned that
“You'll be sleeping with the light on and running away from shadows for months afterwards."
 
Season 2008 will draw to a close with Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL adapted by Christopher Schario,
a tradition at Tri-State. The month of December will be filled with fine family entertainment and holiday fun.
 
Tri-State Actors Theater is the foremost professional theatre company in Sussex County, northeast Pennsylvania,
and south central New York. It’s performances have been praised by many critics including those of the
STAR-LEDGER, THE TIMES HERALD-RECORD, the Morristown DAILY RECORD, and the NJ HERALD.
 
2008 Season Subscriptions, Flex Passes and individual tickets are now on sale. Advance ticket purchases are
recommended for all performances. Large print programs, wheelchair access and elevator service are available
for patrons with special needs. For tickets, information, and special services, please contact the Box Office at
973 875-2950. Main Street parking is limited and patrons are encouraged to use the free municipal parking lot
on Harrison Street, directly behind the theater.
 
Additional information about Tri-State Actors Theater and its programs and services are available on the web at http://www.tristateactorstheater.org. Funding for Tri-State Actors Theater has been made possible in part by a
grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National
"Endowment for the Arts and the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

TRI-STATE OFFERS A KINDER, GENTLER SCROOGE
Saturday, December 15, 2007    Star-Ledger Staff                           NEW JERSEY STAGE
BY PETER FILICHIA

Tiny Tim isn't so tiny in this version of "A Christmas Carol."

In fact, at the Tri-State Actors Theater in Sussex, he looks as if he could be in
graduate school.

It's all part of the fun, though, in Christopher Schario's take on Dickens' famous
novel. Schario starts the show by having five people just sittin' around at Christmastime,
each in his own home, reading "A Christmas Carol." Then each breaks away from the
book and just plays the parts he likes. So tall and trim (and excellent) Philip Mutz can
portray Tiny Tim, because it's only in his imagination, anyway.

Interesting, isn't it, that none of the five sees himself as Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser extraordinaire? That's all right, because
Tri-State artistic director Paul Meacham is happy to take the role. Sussex audiences should be equally happy to have him,
because Meacham brings a great deal to the role that others around the state haven't found during this holiday season.

Many Scrooges wait until the end to show any humanity. Meacham doesn't, though Schario gives him a line that helps. When
his nephew Fred (a charming Clark Gookin) says that he got married because he fell in love, Meacham's Scrooge mutters,
"because you fell in love" in a way that he intends to be mocking -- but there's an unexpected softness in there, too, as if
Scrooge is suddenly remembering his own lost love. This gives him a head start on his ultimate atonement.

Meacham shows a wondrous delight when he's whisked back to the past (by the exquisite, erudite, and confident
Sarah Koestner). He makes a theatergoer believe that he's genuinely returned to days gone by, and very much in the
moment of remembering his less complicated life of years ago. How endearing he is during these moments.

Still, Meacham does err twice. Early on, in editorializing on the mental capacity of the poor, he twirls a finger around his ear
a few times to indicate that they're crazy. That gesture seems decidedly anachronistic for 19th century London.

Then, during the redemption scene, Meacham makes his biggest mistake. Though Scrooge is supposed to see that his life
of stinginess has been ill-spent, Meacham seems to be operating out of fear, that he'll straighten out and be generous only
because the punishment would be too terrible if he didn't. That's not the message of the show.

Perhaps Meacham simply overextended himself, because he functions as director, too. He's done an especially good job in
the breakup scene between Young Scrooge and Belle. Jenelle Sosa excels in showing a young woman who realizes, however
reluctantly, that she mustn't marry someone who's less interested in love and marriage than in shillings and pence. Philip
Mutz is appropriately clueless in not seeing what the problem is between them.

On the other hand, perhaps Meacham was just a bit too busy to notice that Clark Gookin was over the top as the Ghost of
Christmas Past. The place for a Christmas ham is on a table, and not on stage.

Be apprised that this is the shortest of the "A Christmas Carols" that New Jersey's professional theaters are currently offering.
It's less than 90 minutes, and that even includes a generous intermission. So if time is tight, and you'd prefer a theatrical
dessert to a full entree, here's the "A Christmas Carol" for you."

Sussex, N.J. — In the Tri-State Actors Theater production of "A Christmas Carol,"
written by Charles Dickens and adapted for stage by Christopher Schario, it's only
in the many locales of the story that you need to use your imagination. But that is
enough when you have a presentation overflowing with a talented and spirited cast,
colorful and authentic costumes and special effects in sound and sight.

This is an engaging show that features remarkable performances. While five of the
six actors carry multiple roles, the one exception is Paul Meacham, who not only
directs the well-done production but also stars as Scrooge. It would be difficult to
find a more resourceful interpretation of the mean-spirited and stingy owner of a
counting house in 19th-century London who hates Christmas and everything
associated with the celebration.

But before Scrooge can find redemption, he must suffer the anguish of reviewing bad choices he had made. Warning the
ill-willed man of his impending ordeal at the hands of three haunting spirits is Marley, his former partner deceased for
seven years. As Marley's Ghost, Bill Edwards is electrifying. Besides the fearsome appearance of frizzled hair and raggedy
clothes, the combination of clanging chains wrapped around him and thunderclaps overhead add to the horror of a scene
that shakes Scrooge to the core.

In altogether different roles, Edwards imbues Cratchit with servitude in dealing with his boss, warmth in caring for crippled
son Tiny Tim and duty in offering a toast for Scrooge.

While Sarah Koestner as an angry Mrs. Cratchit objects to the testimonial before changing her mind, in her role of
Christmas Past she tenderly leads Scrooge to places of his childhood, which includes the scene of a lonely boy reading
a book. Beyond playing Scrooge at school, Philip Mutz also creates a cheerful Tiny Tim and an upbeat Ghost of
Christmas Yet to Come.

Among the 24 characters, the role of Scrooge's nephew is played with a cheerful glow by Clark Gookin. The refusal by
Scrooge to donate money provides Jenelle Sosa as one of the two gentlewomen a benevolent voice for the poor.

The show also succeeds because of Patricia Meacham's authentic costumes, Jacqueline Perry's efficient set design and
Steven Silvia's profound sound effects.

If you go ...What: "A Christmas Carol" Where: Tri-State Actors Theater, 74 Fountain Square, Sussex, N.J. When: 3 p.m.
Dec. 16, 23, 30; 7 p.m. Dec. 21-22, 27-29 Tickets: $17-$27 Call: 973-875-2950

TIMES HERALD-RECORD
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
‘Price' is right in Sussex
By Cynthia Topps
For the Times Herald-Record

Sussex, N.J. – It is difficult to believe that Arthur Miller’s “The Price,” which was
written in 1968, would speak to a modern audience.  How could a play about two
estranged brothers getting together to dispense with their deceased parents’ possessions
be relevant 40 years later?  Still, [to] people searching for self-awareness, one’s
place in society, and the balance between happiness and success in one’s life [the play]
feels as modern today as it must have in 1968.
     Tri-State Actors Theater and director Paul Meacham are presenting this piece with a
competent and often brilliant cast.  The play is set in 1968 in the attic of a condemned
New York City apartment, beautifully crafted and designed by Paul Meacham and Jacqueline Perry.  This is a place
full of bittersweet memories for members of the Franz family who were ruined by the 1929 Wall Street crash.  Victor
(Randall McCann) is meeting his wife Esther (Tara Bowles), and an estate appraiser, Gregory Solomon (P. Brendan
Mulvey), to dispose of his parent’s belongings.
     From the outset, Victor is on edge, clearly reluctant to sell the “stuff” without his brother’s permission, although
they have been estranged for 15 years.  When Walter (Paul Falzone) arrives just as Victor and Solomon are finalizing
the sale, a confrontation ensues that pulls in all four characters and reveals the reasons for the estrangement.
     In the role of Victor, McCann seems every bit the no-nonsense, distrustful policeman.   He carefully questions
each character as to motives and the truth of the words spoken.  McCann is skillful at winning sympathy with his
portrayal and not going too far and turning Victor into a victim.
     Bowles’ portrayal of Esther is at times too controlled and slightly disconnected.  In her Act 1 appearance,
Bowles’ lack of warmth with her husband makes her seem self-centered and materialistic.  Her Act 2
appearance is more spirited and aware, especially when she vigorously comes to her husband’s defense.
      As Walter, the successful brother, Falzone is appropriately polished.  He is superb when he describes his
recent breakdown and subsequent soul-searching journey.  His attempts to forge reconciliation with his brother
are believable. The price that each paid--Walter sacrificing family for career with Victor sacrificing career
for family--has profoundly impacted each.  When McCann and Falzone come head to head, sparks fly.
     With all this angst, Gregory Solomon, the 89-year-old appraiser, brings wisdom, eccentricity and comic relief. 
He laments that modern society knows the price of everything but the value of nothing.  Mulvey is a delight to
watch in this role.  He plays this character as if born to it.
      If “Death of a Salesman” or “The Crucible” is the only Miller you have ever sampled, it may be time to treat
your theatrical taste buds to something different.  This production is the right brew and it’s worth “The Price.”

TRI-STATE PRESENTS ARTHUR MILLER’S THE PRICE

Sussex…Tri-State Actors Theater will present one of Arthur Miller’s most powerful plays, the touching and thought-
provoking drama, THE PRICE. First performance will be a Preview on Thursday, October 25 and the play runs through
Sunday, November 11 at the historic Crescent Theater, Main St., Sussex, NJ.
     When THE PRICE opened on Broadway on February 7, 1968, Clive Barnes of the New York Times called the play
“one of the most engrossing and entertaining plays that Miller has ever written,” and to expect a great evening of
theatre as “…it does, I think, emphatically deliver the goods.”
     The play takes place in the attic of a once prosperous Manhattan brownstone, soon to be pulled down in the
cause of progress. The apartment is a floor to ceiling clutter of furniture and family memorabilia. The play follows
Victor and Walter, two estranged brothers who reluctantly meet to dispose of their father’s belongings after his death.
After the 1929 stock market collapse left his father ruined, Victor dropped out of college to earn a living and support
the family. Now a policeman, Victor resents his wealthy brother Walter, whom Victor feels benefited from his sacrifice.
While trying to put a price tag on their family’s belongings, they discover that there are some things that are truly
priceless – brotherhood, love, and justice.
     Taking on the roles of the two brothers are Randall McCann who will play the tough New York City policeman
Victor, and Paul Falzone as the wealthy doctor Walter. P. Brendan Mulvey takes on the role of the appraiser,
Gregory Solomon. Tara Bowles plays the role of Victor’s wife, Esther. Actors Paul Falzone and P. Brendan Mulvey
are both members of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
   The artistic team for The Price includes director and set designer, Paul Meacham, Tri-State’s founder and artistic
director; sound designer and Technical Staff member, Steven A. Silvia; costume coordinator, Patricia Meacham;
and Stage Manager, Lara Terrell, returning to Tri-State under her first Equity contract.
    The Price runs from October 25 through November 11. Opening Night is Friday, October 26. The performance is
followed by a “Meet the Artist Reception” and refreshments will be served.  Evening performances are Thursday
through Saturday at 8PM; matinee performances are Sundays at 3PM. Tickets are: $18 on Thursdays (preview -
$17), $27 regular/$25 seniors and $17 students on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. The performance on Sunday,
November 11 will be Closed Captioned for the hearing impaired. Large print programs, wheelchair access and
elevator service are available for patrons with special needs. Reservations are recommended for all performances.
For tickets, information, and special services, please contact the Box Office at 973 875-2950.  Main Street parking
is limited and patrons are encouraged to use the free municipal parking lot on Harrison Street, directly behind the
theater.
     Additional information about Tri-State Actors Theater and its programs and services are available on the web at http://www.tristateactorstheater.org. Funding for Tri-State Actors Theater has been made possible in part by a grant
from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment
for the Arts and the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

From the TIMES HERALD-RECORD
Play review: 'Stuart Little'

By James F. Cotter

August 04, 2007

     Sussex, N.J. — "I'm Headed in the Right Direction" sings the
mouse Stuart Little at the climax of "Stuart Little," a musical based on the children's book by E.B. White.
The story has been artfully adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette with music by Ronna Frank and lyrics
by Robinette and Frank. Indeed, Stuart is headed in the right direction after a happy home life in the Littles'
Manhattan apartment where he was born and brought up with sensitivity and affection by his human parents.
When he finally decides to go out into the world to make his own fortune and to find the bird that
has been the love of his life, we know that Stuart has chosen the right path for himself.

     Tri-State Actors Theatre is presenting a revival of "Stuart Little" with the Student Intern Company
directed by Paul Meacham. The 11 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 are terrific as they take on
myriad human and animal roles, led by the ever resourceful, mild-mannered supermouse Stuart. Emma
Della makes Stuart a true hero, confident yet modest, threatened but optimistic. With Stuart's mouse
hat, the performer shivers and quakes, then races off to a fresh adventure, sailing boats, chased by
dogs, thrown onto an East River garbage barge, and, of course, negotiating with cats.

     As Stuart's housemate, the cat Snowbell, Allison Ann Dethmers claws the air and agrees in a duet,
"Natural Enemies," that pets need to be friends. One of the highlights of the show is a quartet sung by cats
about the joys of "Nighttime in New York.

     As Stuart's Mom and Dad, Alexa Ross and Josh Ernst are caringly comic when they agree to avoid the
m-word whenever addressing their tiny son, while Jonathon Dragon hits the right notes as brother George
who treats Stuart as a younger sibling in need of guidance. Amanda Martino has a funny scene as a dentist,
Dr. Carey, who befriends Stuart while extracting a tooth from a frantic patient played by Dallas Haines.
As the bird Margalo, Raquel Warehime flutters her wings and looks beautiful as she joins in the title duet,
"Stuart Little," while Amanda Autore as the ritzy Harriet Ames shares a frustrated date with the wandering hero.
Alexis Alemy is a helpful shopkeeper and Jackie Torres a desperate school superintendent whom Stuart
encounters in the search through the Big Apple for his true identity.

     Jim Blanton accompanies the cast at the keyboard while also acting as the accomplished musical
director. Choreographer Melissa Pisarri creates some marvelous dance sequences, and scenic artist Jackie
Perry uses alphabet blocks spelling out the hero's name in an imaginative variety of ways. The pastel-colored
costumes, logolike skyline and lighting by Courtney O'Rourke all add up to making this show a delightful
experience for young and old alike.

Tasty ‘Tuna’ in Sussex
TIMES HERALD-RECORD
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
PLAY REVIEWS

Tasty ‘Tuna’ in Sussex
By Cynthia O. Topps

Sussex, N.J.—There exists in the theater world something called the “Tuna
Trilogy.”  These are three plays written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed
Howard concerning the inhabitants of a fictional town in Texas called Tuna. 
They are titled “Greater Tuna,” “a Tuna Christmas,” and Red, White and Tuna.” 
The most popular of the three is “Greater Tuna,” which is being produced by Tri-
State Actors Theater in Sussex, NJ.

The play does not have a plot or a story line.  It is closer to a series of comedy
sketches that are linked together by news reports given on local radio station
OKKK.  Two performers portray 10 Tuna citizens each.  The humor comes not
only from the rapid and clever way they transform from person to person but also
from the absurdity of those characters as portrayed. Bill Edwards and Scotty
Watson inhabit Tri-State’s “Tuna” with high energy and brilliant comic timing.  Both
are equally gifted and well cast by director Paul Meacham.

Edwards is particularly fine in his portrayal of the three Bumiller children: Jody, Stanley, and Charlene.  He
morphs from Jody, a young boy obsessed with dogs, to Stanley, his stuttering juvenile delinquent brother to
Charlene, their obese, frustrated sister.  As Petey Fisk, the lisping president of the Tuna humane Society,
Edwards is hilarious while valiantly trying to save ducks, whales, snails, llamas, and shrimp. Watson is as
accomplished as Edwards.  His Rev. Spikes was comical as he worked himself into a lathered funeral eulogy
peppered with every pithy saying imaginable.  Watson is wonderfully skillful at playing Pearl Burras, a sadistic
dog-poisoning old woman, and Bertha Bumiller, the mother of the Bumiller terror trio.

The costumers Patricia Meacham and Nicole Lee Smith deserve kudos for their colorful, appropriate costumes.
But a standing ovation should go to the dressers Jane Cunningham and Alisone Alcordo, who have to change
the actors with rapid-fire precision.  The only glitches of the night were Charlene’s pants and Arles Struvie’s
mustache. Neither wanted to stay on Bill Edwards, but the actors used these mishaps for moments of improvis-
ational fun.  After struggling with his mustache, Edwards remarked that he had to wear a fake mustache after
his wife had ripped off his real one.

So if you are looking for a night out filled with laughter and chaos, go see “Greater Tuna.” Edwards and
Watson are adept at working the audience, which adds to the fun and flavor of your evening.

Play review: 'Twelfth Night'           
THE TIMES RECORD HERALD

Olivia and Maria tease the "man," Cesario,
who is really the woman, Viola, in Tri-State's
"Twelfth Night."
From.left are Katie Tame as Olivia,
Jenelle Sosa as Maria, and
Celia Montgomery as Cesario/Viola

By Lisa Hewel
For the Times Herald-Record
May 01, 2007

Sussex, N.J. — What do you get when you combine a pair of separated
siblings, a few cases of mistaken identity, a cross-dressing female, a modicum of madness, and the
absurdity of love? No, it's not an upcoming episode of "Desperate Housewives," but rather one of William
Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, "Twelfth Night" or "What You Will." Director Paul Meacham's
rousing rendition of the Bard's work is being staged by Tri-State Actors Theater, an Equity professional
regional theater in Sussex, N.J. 

Shakespeare's play, written around 1601, tells the story of Viola and Sebastian, a brother and sister
who are separated by a shipwreck and therefore think the other dead. Alone in a foreign country, Viola
disguises herself to become Cesario, a page to the Count Orsino.  Orsino is in love with the lady Olivia,
who does not love Orsino. The count sends Cesario to woo Olivia. As fate would have it, Olivia falls in love
with the cross-dressing confidante. To complicate the plot even further, an idiotic nobleman, Sir Andrew
Aguecheek, and a pompous servant, Malvolio, find themselves the objects of a scheme by Olivia's oft-
inebriated uncle, Sir Toby Belch, who leads the men to believe Olivia loves each.  Sebastian returns,
more calamity and laughs ensue, and almost everyone lives happily ever after.

As Viola/Cesario, Celia Montgomery plays the perfect protagonist. While in the midst of conflict, she is
cunning and confident; when caught in the lover's triangle, she is appropriately nervous as she avoids
revealing her gender and her love for Orsino. Andrew Danish as Orsino does well as the lovesick nobleman.
He is at times fittingly foolish, and at other times apparently confused by his growing interest in Cesario.
Katie Tame is a beautiful and bold, yet cruel and cool Olivia. She appears to have great fun being the object
of so many men's affections.

The scenes with Craig Dudley as Sir Toby Belch, Bill Edwards as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Clark Gookin
as Feste, are worth the price of admission alone. The trio provides much of the comic relief, and work well
together being plain old fools.  Kevin Shinnick as the puritanical butler Malvolio is as strait-laced as can be,
and then as silly as a schoolgirl when he is the object of an unkind practical joke.  Jenelle Sosa as Maria,
a young woman in Olivia's employ, is smart and sassy, and basks in the glory of pulling off her own practical
joke and then getting her man, too.  Freeman Borden as Sebastian is at first a little too stiff for his part, but is
quite funny when not realizing he is the unwitting object in a case of mistaken identity.  The remaining
ensemble cast — Jason Shane as Curio, Ben Schaub as Valentine, Ted Odell as the sea captain and priest,
and Daniel Mian as Antonio — help to keep the humor in high gear.

Original bluesy-type music by Vince Di Mura adds the right air of absurdity.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007                                          BY PETER FILICHIA  Star-Ledger Staff "
Laissez les bons temps rouler!"["Let the good times roll!"] is
certainly the current policy at Tri-State Actors Theater in Sussex.
Artistic director Paul Meacham has taken "Twelfth Night," William
Shakespeare's 1601 hit, and transposed it to 1910 New Orleans.
The good times indeed roll, along with plenty of actors who roll
around the stage in one of the Bard's rowdiest comedies.

  

Celia Montgomery & Katie Tame

Jenelle Sosa, Kevin Shinnick
and Craig Dudley

This is supposed to be the story of Viola and Sebastian, fraternal twins who are separated in a shipwreck. She
quickly decides she'd have better job opportunities if she pretended to be a man. He, of course, doesn't need
that ruse. Both cause a great deal of mistaken identity en route to being reunited and falling in love with a soulmate.
But Shakespeare indulged in plenty of time-killing scenes with some low-class drunks. Do the math: The often-
intoxicated Sir Toby Belch has 152 lines -- exactly the number that Viola and Sebastian have combined.

So there are plenty of scenes where Belch is bobbing and weaving about, placing all his energies into
maintaining a sober look. His equally besotted buddy, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, joins in the liquid debauchery.
Given the situation, Meacham has gone all out to make it wild 'n' rollicking, putting all these rakes onstage --
though he avoids the obvious in having Belch belch. Craig Dudley does the part proud. Think of W.C. Fields
with a pretentious British accent. Bill Edwards, an expert at physical comedy, playfully plays Aguecheek.
When depicting a drunk, he tries to convince others that his cane is a mere walking stick, though it's a
necessity to keep him propped up.

Clark Gookin shows Feste the jester chooses to get high on life. He's very winning, almost to the finish line,
when Meacham assigns him the show's concluding song. Alas, Gookin doesn't have the voice for it, and
grasps for notes as if he were trying to catch mosquitoes in his bare hands.

Some scholars consider "Twelfth Night" the world's first musical, given that it contains six songs. Composer
Vince DiMura provides lovely ballads and sprightly up-tempo songs. However, none sounds particularly
right for 1910 New Orleans -- especially when contrasted with the Scott Joplin tunes used as incidental
music.

Any gender-bending Shakespearean comedy must be at least somewhat convincing in having characters
mistake Viola for Sebastian, and vice-versa. Celia Montgomery and Freeman Borden do look a bit alike,
thanks to the (bad) blond wig worn by the latter. Too bad Montgomery can't sustain a deep speaking voice --
and that Borden can't shave a little closer. He's acceptable in the acting department, though, and there's some
nice chemistry with his lady love, Olivia. She's played by Katie Tame, who must have seen "Sex and the City"
on every channel, for she's channeling Sarah Jessica Parker.

Two others stand out in the 14-member cast. One is Jenella Sosa as the maid Maria, who starts out disapproving
of the drunks, but gets down and dirty to join them in trickery. The victim? Malvolio, delightfully portrayed by
Kevin Shinnick, the career sycophant who goes from workaholic to lustaholic. To see him try to smile -- he seems
to have forgotten how to do it -- is one of the show's highlights. Audiences have eight chances to see "Twelfth Night"
in the next -- yes -- 12 nights.
Peter Filichia may be reached at pfilichia@starledger.com or (973) 392-5995.

The Illustrious Theatre Company, in residence at the Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, opens its fifth season with
Neil Simon's outrageous romantic comedy, Last of the Red Hot Lovers.  The company will also continue its unique
collaboration with Sussex County's professional theatre company, Tri-State Actors Theater by presenting a third weekend
at Tri-State's theatre in Sussex..  Last of the Red Hot Lovers opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 1969 starring
James Coco, Linda Lavin, Doris Roberts, and Marcia Rodd. It won the 1970 Tony Award for Best Play and went on to
play 706 performances.  In this charming play Barney Cashman, a middle-aged married nebbish, wants to join the sexual
revolution of the late 60's before it's too late.  Joe Barra of Pine Bush will portray Barney in ITC's production, with Victoria Ford,
Cindy Rea, and Mary Lee Shorr portraying the three women who come into Barney's life.

Simon, one of America's most famous and prolific playwrights, got his break writing comedy for Sid Caesar's live TV
comedy Show of Shows in the 1950s where he worked along side Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Larry Gelbert, and Carl
Reiner.  He is the only playwright to have four productions running on Broadway simultaneously.  His first Broadway hit
was Come Blow Your Horn followed by numerous others including Barefoot in the Park, Plaza Suite, Rumors,
The Odd Couple, and his autobiographical trilogy Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and Broadway Bound.

Performances at the Winery are February 23, 24, 25 and March 2, 3 and 4.  Curtain time on Fridays and Saturdays is
8 PM and Sundays at 7:30 PM.  Seating, which is cabaret style, begins at 6:15 on Friday and Saturday and 5:45 on
Sunday for those planning to enjoy a dinner from the winery's Pané Café and Bakery; dinner reservation times are
required when purchasing tickets for the play.  Tickets are now available at the Winery, by phone (845-258-4858), or
through the winery's web site (www.wvwinery.com.  Go to Marketplace, then Tickets).  Ticket prices are $18, or $16
for senio