When two actors with a history are thrown together as romantic leads in a forgotten 1930s melodrama, they quickly lose touch with reality as the lines between offstage and onstage begin to blur. Stage Kiss (2011) walks a wobbly line between farce and romantic comedy with its play within a play.
“One of the most delightful things about this play is that it’s written for theater lovers,” observed Michael Rulon, sound designer/operator for Stage Kiss. “It examines love through the lens of theater, allowing the audience to peer behind the curtain not only of the plays-within-a-play, but also behind the curtain of the protagonists’ most private passions.”
According to director Stan Sutherland, “The cast is really grooving on the satirical material, making fun of actors and the theatrical process, and they’re having fun with the characters.”
“Satirical, sassy and over-the-top, Stage Kiss has been one wild ride to read, and I’m sure it will be to watch,”commented actor Lindsey DeStefano (playing “She”). Actor Adam Wintz (playing “He”) noted that the playwright “has created a world that is both realistic and absurd. There are jokes within jokes and layers within layers. People will want to see the show more than once to pick up on all the subtleties.”
The playwright, Sarah Ruhl, is a MacArthur Fellowship winner, a PEN Theater Award winner, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
This wry, racy comedy runs October 6—22.
Recommended for mature audiences.
