Comic wisdom in the slow lane
By Lola Smith

Playreaders Theater
A Bench in the Sun
Wed–Thu, Oct 7–8, 7pm
St. Paul’s Church
Cardo 6
Donation 20 pesos

Paula Clark between Chris Davis (left) and David Bossman

Playreaders presents the sunny comedy A Bench in the Sun at St. Paul’s Church. Author Ron Clark wrote many other plays and is probably one of the funniest writers of our era. For television, he wrote regularly for the Jackie Gleason Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and for Mel Brooks throughout the sixties. A successful screenplay writer, he also co-authored many popular stage comedies with Sam Bobrick.

A Bench in the Sun is “hilarious, pithy and a testament to friendships that can last a lifetime” said one critic. Another wrote that it “is a play about desire, jealousy and disappointment that don’t end after hormones slow down.” A third felt the play showed “comic wisdom with a funny, touching pitched look at life in the slowed-down lane,” and Mel Brooks called it “very wise, very moving, but most of all, very funny.”

Harold and Burt are two old men who spend their time bickering while sitting on a bench in the garden of their retirement home. Their mundane lives get a jump start when a flirtatious, aging ex-actress moves in and shakes up things.

Director Doris Pyle has cast Chris Davis as the crotchety cynic Burt and David Bossman as the wealthy old womanizer Harold. Paula Clark will appear as the ditzy ex-movie star who explodes into and changes their lives. Caroline Elam will provide an off-stage female voice and Dic Simandl will handle lights and sound.

Doors open at 7pm and performances start at 7:30pm or earlier if the house is full.