If you’re curiously humming the old nursery rhyme, “Three Blind Mice,” or hear it ringing in your head as you check out what’s up next on Playcrafters’ end-of-summer bill, your thoughts are on par with playwright, Philip King, when he titled his farcical English-born comedy, SEE HOW THEY RUN. The stage play was also adapted into a 1955 feature film.
Set in post WWII England around 1947, the townspeople of a little village in Oxfordshire are concerned about the threat of Nazis. “Reverend Lionel Toop” is the vicar and is played by Bobby DiPasquale. “Toop” and his wife “Penelope”—a former actress— played by Leah Foster, have employed a Cockney maid, “Ida,” played by Alexis Ross. One of the townspeople is “Miss Skillon,” a church going busybody played by Allison Fisher, who is quick to gossip with the vicar and comes to complain about the latest outrage that has come to her attention. Later, when the vicar leaves, an old friend of Penelope from her acting days, “Corporal Clive Winton”, played by Michael Rizzo, stops by for a quick visit. The visit is all but quick and what follows is sheer mayhem and hilarity.
The ensemble cast includes: The “Bishop of Lax” who is played by Bryan Cassidy; the “Reverend Arthur Humphrey” is played by Ron Lake. “Sergeant Towers” is played by Loren Bittner, and “The Man” is Jay Reilly.
“The cast is marvelous,” said Director Max Minkoff, veteran of Playcrafters, who is making his directorial debut with a major production. “The ensemble has gelled quickly,” he added, as they have all come to appreciate what everyone brings to the stage.
The story takes place in the vicar’s house, and you will, at some point, witness some of the actors in this delightful suspended-belief comedy indeed scamper in and out as they carry out their headlong humor in the situational chaos they’ve created. When a stranger enters the vicar’s home, both confusion and tension are ratcheted up to serve the comical climax in the case of mistaken identity, the shedding of clothes and, surprisingly, more than one vicar.
With a little innocent deception, a lot of doors, and some nipping at the cooking sherry, the crazy characters will bring smiles and laughter to the Playcrafters’ stage once again.
Director: Max Minkoff
Producer: David Deratzian
Stage Manager: Courtney Katz
Lighting Design: Irwin Sklar
Board Operator: Ryan Kadwill
Sponsored by the Law Offices of Jennifer J. Riley
If you go:
Playcrafters’ presents SEE HOW THEY RUN
@ The Barn
2011 Store Road at Skippack Pike
Skippack, PA.
Sept 19, 20, 21, 27, 28; Oct. 3, 4, 5 @8 pm
Sept. 29* @2 pm
Tickets: $20.00
www.playcrafters.org
610-584-4005
Theater/Organization: Playcrafters of Skippack
Theater Address: Playcrafters of Skippack2011 Store Road @ Route 73 Skippack, Pennsylvania 19473 (Map It)
Theater Phone: (610) 584-4005
