Weekend Comedy, opened March 14 for an 8 performance run, is a funny nod at romanticism while still allowing one to speculate about the nature of human relationships, especially those between men and women.
Frank has been married to Peggy for twenty-three years. “Our marriage is like a fine piece of machinery,” he proclaims. “We have contentment. We have security. We have trust.” Peggy would like it if Frank was a little more spontaneous and adventurous. “Lighten up, Frank. For once in your life enjoy yourself,” she insists. Peggy has rented a vacation cabin for Memorial Day Weekend and taken Frank away from the city and his routine in hopes of rekindling some of the romance in their relationship. At the very moment when Peggy is about to succeed with her plan, enter Tony and Jill, a younger, still unmarried couple who have mistakenly rented the same cabin for the same long weekend. “In spite of being spoiled rotten, he’s got a good heart,” remarks Jill about her boyfriend, Tony, who offers his special insight to love saying, “once it becomes routine, it’s in trouble.” With this mix of generations and differing opinions about relationships, the stage is set for a hilarious and enlightening rendezvous at the cabin in the woods.
Four local stage veterans will be combining their talents on the Van Wert Civic Theatre stage to bring these characters to life. Larry Keltner will be playing the part of Frank with Jewell Kurtz taking on the challenge of playing his long-suffering wife, Peggy. Larry was last seen on the VWCT stage in the role of Thomas in last season’s touching musical, The Story of My Life. Many may remember Larry in his outstanding portrayal of the adult Ralphie in VWCT’s 2006 production of A Christmas Story. Jewell made her VWCT debut only four years ago playing several roles in the quirky comedy-drama, Almost, Maine. Bitten hard by the acting bug, she has played numerous roles in every VWCT season since with her latest trip across the boards being in the role of Cee Cee Windham in last season’s hilarious Red Velvet Cake War. Additionally, Jewell has shared her acting talents with Van Wert’s Off Stage Productions as well as a part in a recently premiered independent film, Midget Zombie Takeover. Jill and Tony will be played by Angi Robbins Lane and Chris Burkheimer. Angi has played many roles at different local venues with her last performance on the VWCT stage being in the 2007 production of A Nice Family Gathering. Her on-stage partner, Chris, a veteran of several VWCT productions performed the part of the highly unusual handyman, Loomis, in this season’s opener, the farcical thriller, Wrong Window.
Played March of 2013
Van Wert Civic Theatre 