We hear traffic and a few sirens, and Jonathan Hamilton pops into the dark theatre, looking for “Jerry” and “playing” for…unreal? Thinking he’s alone, he playfully explores Shakespeare's famous “To be or not to be?” speech.
It soon becomes evident that the troupe is not doing Hamlet, but a new take on Romeo and Juliet. We get a taste of that “acting” and the “reality” that the company is in dire need of financing from a visiting producer. Director (Holly Sleight-Engler) and playwright (Charles Hoogstraten) scramble to organize a preview after said producer (Quinn Kelly) arrives in full swagger.
Actors Ian Whipp, Samantha Hall, Molly Sullivan join Jonathon in performing and opining with director and playwright on such topics as the nature of theatre and what is real, the compromised progeny of art and commerce, and an audience's desire to be “dangerously safe.” Tim Lewis appears and no one feels safe… and eventually Greg Pratt arrives and adds a new level of “reality.”
I remember really enjoying the Renegade version of this script, but this cast at times seemed to be trying too hard. First time director Steve Lee generated a lot of enthusiasm and passion and volume, but it rarely toned down to a level where we believed it was, indeed, real.
Playing for Real runs only about 50 minutes — and continues March 23, 29 & 30 at 8 pm at Stage One at Sycamore Creek Church Eastwood 2200 Lake Lansing Road, west of Eastwood Towne Center, directly across from McAlister’s Deli. The driveway is on the east side; enter in the back of the building and come up the stairs. (Elevator available) General admission tickets $15, can be purchased at the door or online, https://our.show/playingforreal