A Blessing and two Durangs
By Tim Johnson

Theater
War of the Roses
Wed, Jan 28, 8pm 
Opening night reception
200 pesos
Thu–Sat, Jan 29–31, 8pm
Sun, Feb 1, 5pm
Wed–Sat. Feb 4–7, 8pm
Sun, Feb 8, 5pm 
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos

Players Workshop opens its 2009 season at Teatro Santa Ana with a Blessing and two Durangs. War of the Roses, by celebrated playwright Lee Blessing, is the main attraction. Two short comedies by Christopher Durang fill out the playbill.

Not to be confused by the movie of the same name, though they both share an intense investigation into married life, the play by Blessing is a straight-forward portrayal of a couple at the crossroads.

David and Carolyn Rose have checked into the same hotel, albeit not the same room, they shared on their honeymoon 25 years prior. David—honest, hardworking and calculatingly romantic—is there to remember and rekindle his relationship. Carolyn—bright, strong and doggedly dedicated—is there for decidedly different reasons. He wants romance. She wants out.

Though a drama, War of the Roses, directed by Players Workshop veteran Lola Smith, is cut through with the humor born of two people who know each other better than they know themselves. It is a brew of words and behavior which drives the war between this couple to its final battle. The wreckage of marriage visible after the smoke has cleared is both horrifying and hopeful.

Blessing, best known for his Pulitzer- and Tony-nominated A Walk in the Woods, fills Roses with crisp dialog and keen repartee. It’s a compelling story of two people in love, but estranged, and builds to a fierce, riveting and surprising climax.

Jill and Michael Gottlieb, no strangers to the San Miguel stage or real married life, take on the roles of the Roses. When asked if it was easy to separate the drama on-stage and life at home, Jill says, “Yes. My on-stage husband speaks in complete sentences.” War of the Roses promises real fireworks.

The renowned and outrageous Durang delivers two short comedies. He is relentlessly entertaining. Whether a burlesque of other playwrights, an annihilation of the happily-ever-after myth, or a vitriolic challenge to religion, homophobia, psychoanalysis, or parenthood, Durang’s plays arouse their audiences through wit and moral outrage.

This particular evening of theater fittingly opens with a visit from one of Durang’s most endearing characters—the very optimistic, the very gracious and the very scatter-brained Mrs. Sorken. Charming and knowledgeable, Mrs. Sorken never lets illogical detours deter her from her mission of explaining “theater” to one and all. How lucky we are to have her in San Miguel for this exclusive Players Workshop engagement.

Next up is Durang’s hysterical (and we mean that in more ways than one) play, Naomi in the Living Room. Think Monty Python meets Noël Coward meets Oscar Wilde meets Milton Berle and you’ll have some idea of what to expect in this nutty play. Directed by Rudy Hornish, the players include Nancy Kandal, Clara Dunham and Tim Johnson.

Don’t miss the 105th production of San Miguel’s most respected theater company.

The show runs Wednesday through Sunday for two weeks beginning January 28, with an opening night post-show dessert reception at the Café Santa Ana. Tickets are available at the Biblioteca Pública patio, 10:30am–1:30pm and from the Teatro Santa Ana box office, 4–7pm. All seats reserved.

Eccentric woman raises orphaned nephew 
By Shari Kosson

Theater
Mame
Mon, Feb 9, 8pm
200 pesos, opening night 
Tue–Sat, Feb 10–14, 8pm
Sun, Feb 15, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Relox 50A
150 pesos 

The Broadway musical Mame opens for a seven-night run on February 9. Based on the 1955 Patrick Dennis novel Auntie Mame, it was adapted for stage and was an instant success. It then became a musical written by Jerry Herman, starring Angela Lansbury, and ran for 1,508 performances, after which it was made into a movie.

Mame tells the story of an eccentric middle-aged woman raising her orphaned 10-year-old nephew. The story takes place in the late twenties to the forties in New York City.

Judy Marzulli, who plays the title role, is a veteran of the San Miguel stage. She has produced and performed in nine cabaret musical variety shows, and produced Mack and Mable and Cabaret, the Broadway musical performed at Teatro Ángela Peralta. She also has performed in several Players Workshop productions; her favorite role is Sister Mary Hubert in the musical Nunsense.

Marzulli’s costar, 11-year-old Max Lazen, recently moved here from New York. He is an avid chess player when he isn’t mimicking American regional accents. He is a talented actor and singer and enjoys being on the stage. His understudy, 12-year-old brother Jacob, is an experienced off-Broadway performer.

The stage will be filled with both experienced performers and newcomers to the city and the stage. The San Miguel production is adapted from the Broadway musical.

Reserved-seat tickets can be purchased at the Teatro box office starting January 26.