Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Octette Bridge Club by P. J. Barry is the current offering of Community Actors Theatre.

The Octette Bridge ClubThe play opens with photographer Robert Foster (Alexander Mayes) shooting a group shot of the members of the bridge club...all eight of them.  Be sure to have a good listen and look at Mr. Mayes because once his character has taken the photograph we will not see him again until curtain call.

The ladies, however, command our attention thereafter.  Two card tables, each with four chairs dominate the stage.  It is Friday night bridge club in late October, 1934.  The hostess, Ann Conroy (Renee Gandola), a no-nonsense school teacher, is married to a heavy drinker.  Her widowed elder sister, Martha McDermitt (M. Susan Peck) has a quite stern personality and is known for her sense of responsibility.  Mary Johnson (Jennie Hamilton) is a spinster who lives with younger sister Alice Monahan (Paola Hornbuckle) and her husband Walter, who are a childless couple.

Nora Hiller (Jessica Borrega) is an easy-going woman devoted to her husband and their children.  Connie Emerson (Victoria Velasco) seems to have a wise crack for every occasion.  Lil Carmody (Dana Gibson) is the free spirit of the group, with a talent for the piano.  Betsy Bailey (Jennifer Provenza), the youngest, is a melancholy mother of two in search of her own identity.  The eight are ready for their night of bridge and conversation.

The contrasts of the women's very different personalities soon become evident.  Through two nights of bridge we learn more and more about their lives.  Confessions come out, judgements are pronounced, and punishments are meted out.  We see them bicker, disagree, sing, insult, and support one another.  The complex relationships between individual women are well crafted.
Director George Bailey and Co-Director Kristen Fogle had a difficult job of moving the large cast about the small stage and on and off a naturally as possible.  For the most part it works quite well.  Costumer Kristen Fogle aided by the cast did a good job of attiring the group in period dress.

The Octette Bridge Club runs through April 24th, 2011.  It is well worth the time and price of admission.  Community Actors Theatre is located at 2957 54th Street, San Diego, CA 92105.  You can find more information at www.communityactorstheatre.com


  
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ArtsNFashion presents "Welcome to Ramallah".  Coming 7 Sept 2012.  For Details and tickets visit http://www.welcometoramallah.com/

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