Click on photographs to see larger views
“TWENTIETH CENTURY”
Photos and story by Sandi Carroll
All aboard! All aboard! The Twentieth Century Limited starts boarding passengers at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach at 8 p.m. Sept. 14.
The Little Theatre’s 2007-2008 season opener is Ken Ludwig’s hilarious farce, “Twentieth Century.” Departures are at 8 p.m. Sept. 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, and 22, and 2 p.m. Sept. 16, and 23.
This hilarious new adaptation of the classic 1930’s farce takes place aboard the Twentieth Century Limited between Chicago and New York.
At the center of all the madness is brilliant but broke Broadway producer Oscar Jaffe (Brian Fitzgibbons), who’s on a mission to sign Hollywood diva and former lover Lily Garland (Jamie-Lyn Hawkins) to a contract for his new project – the hitch being that he doesn’t have a new project.
Things move in genuine screwball fashion when Oscar ropes a wealthy religious fanatic (Sparky Holmes), who plasters “repent’ stickers throughout the train, into backing a new staging of the Passion Play, with Lily to star as Mary Magdalene.
As the Twentieth Century steams toward New York, Oscar pulls out all the stops to try and save his theater and his career by persuading Lily to return to Broadway.
Add in Lily’s jealous boyfriend (Will Bordelon), a married doctor who thinks he’s a playwright (Bob Hewes), the doctor’s lover (Harriet Winokur), Oscar’s smart-mouthed general manager (Karen Pouslen) and Irish press agent (Ken Guilbeault), along with a rival producer (Gary Broughman), and the non-stop screwball fun really begins.
A nutty bearded actor (Don Campbell), porter and detective (Ralph Weinrich), photographer (Danielle Grau) and the Conductor (Bill Cook) round out the cast.
Jennie Sejansky directs this madcap adventure, with assistance from Greg Harris as stage manager.
Ted Pack is technical director and handles lights and sound. Rose Dingas and Ruth Stammen are in charge of costumes, and Danielle Grau handles props.
Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors (62+), and $9 for those under 18. Tickets may be purchased at the Little Theatre box office, 726 Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach, between 1-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 386-423-1246 or visit www.nsbplayers.org.
Ken Ludwig’s adaptation is based on the comedy by Ben Hecht and Charles Macarthur that was based on a play by Charles Bruce Milholland.
