Tasty Meal
Two comic one-acts by the Unicorn Players give Bob Colter something to sink his teeth into.
The Unicorn Theater''s current theatrical offering is a double portion of comic one-acts revolving around dinner parties: Chinamen, by Michael Frayn and Dinner for One, attributed to Freddie Fenton.
The first and longer of the two, Chinamen, is a farce of the escalating variety, and concerns Stephen (Robert Colter) and Jo (Denise Guarneri) and their discovery that they have invited one too many dinner guests to their evening soiree. The extra guest, Barney (Robert Colter), is the abandoned and forlorn husband of Bee (Denise Guarneri) who is in attendance with her new boyfriend Alex (also Denise Guarneri).
No, those are not typos--two actors play the entire cast of characters. So, in effect, we have the escalating comedy of two characters, who, through a combination of subterfuge and good English manners, are intent on keeping two other characters apart. Layered over this muddle is the escalating difficulty of two actors portraying all the aforesaid characters with the intent of keeping them straight and keeping it funny. And where the characters (Stephen and Jo) might fail, the actors (Colter and Guarneri) succeed.
Chinamen is just the kind of show that the versatile Colter loves to sink his teeth into, and his performance in this production does not disappoint. He transforms from one character to the next without missing a beat (and sometimes that is all he has between character changes) and part of the fun is watching him do it. Guarneri plays well opposite Colter and is especially funny as the neurotic Bee. Alex could be a bit less macho.
For the most part the comic timing was good. Despite a few tentative moments over lines, the show was smooth and consistently funny. Frankly, I enjoyed it and it deserves a longer run.
The second play, Dinner for One, also stars Colter as the proverbial faithful butler, James, opposite Dania King as Miss Sophie. It is short and sweet, and whereas Stephen and Jo in Chinamen had more dinner guests than they knew what to do with, poor Miss Sophie has none. Therefore, our resourceful retainer must fill in for those who, if they had been able--that is, alive--would have attended. Read more comic fun for both Colter and the audience.
The set, designed by Carey Crockett, was as simple as "The Honeymooners," and that is as it should be. This is about the actors and performance, not color coordination and special effects. Judiciously done.
At the Hoffman Playhouse through Nov. 14.
Opening
The Voice of the City Thurday, 7pm; Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm. Comedic Drama. Jose Lambert directs a collection of humorous, dramatic and poignant short stories by O. Henry set in turn-of-the-century New York. S.R.O./Studio Theater at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $7/General. 647-9844. Closes: 11/27.
Continuing On Stage
Fiddler on the Roof Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm. Musical. Reviewed in this issue. Western Stage Main Stage at Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. $20/General; $10/Children; $18/Seniors. 755-6816/375-2111. Closes: 11/21.
Looking For Words Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm and 7pm. Drama. An original play by Salinas writer Michael Roddy is based on his family''s struggle with Alzheimer''s. At press time, all shows are sold-out; tickets may be reserved on a stand-by basis only. The Studio Theater at Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. $20/General; $10/Children; $18/Seniors. 755-6816/375-2111. Closes: 11/21.
Orphans Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm. Drama. A psychological drama, with comic moments, about the unusual relationship that develops between two brothers and the older man they kidnap. Magic Circle Center for the Arts, 8 El Caminito Rd., Carmel Valley. $15/General; $12/students and seniors. 659-1108. Closes: 12/5.
Ruined by Drink Friday and Saturday, 8pm. Melodrama. Another scenery-chewing 19th-century melodrama set in the Old West, performed in California''s oldest continuously operating theater. As usual, the show is followed by the traditional olio revue (song, dance and comedy numbers). California''s First Theatre, Scott and Pacific streets, Monterey. $10/General; $5/Children; $8/Seniors. 375-4916. Closes: 11/27.
Santos & Santos Thursday-Saturday, 8pm. Drama. An original production put on by the CSUMB Institute for Teledramatic Arts and Technology, Santos & Santos is the story of a Mexican-American law firm in El Paso whose rising stars become involved in drugs and underworld dealings, and must choose between life in the fast lane or family honor. $12/General; $10/seniors and military; $7/students. World Theater, Bldg. 28, 6th Avenue, CSUMB campus, Seaside. 582-4580. Closes: 11/13.
Closing
Chinamen and Dinner For One Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 7pm. Reviewed in this issue. Hoffman Playhouse, 320 Hoffman St., Monterey. $15/General; $12/Children and seniors. 649-0259. Closes: 11/14.
La Traviata Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 3pm. Opera. Soprano Nancy Williams stars as Violetta, a beautiful French courtesan who selflessly gives up her one true love, Alfredo (Metropolitan Opera national finalist James Crowley) in this production by the Monterey Opera Association, directed by Sid Cato, with musical direction by Stephen Tosh. Conductor Robert Place heads a 22-piece orchestra; lavish sets and costumes are de rigueur. Golden Bough Theater, Monteverde at 8th, Carmel. $25/General. 372-2721. Closes: 11/14.
Leavin'' Will Thursday-Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2:30pm. Drama. Kirsten Lovell is particularly compelling as Ellie, in this locally written play about women who love the wrong kind of man. This original play presented by the Staff Players Repertory Company was written by Lee Brady, who teaches playwriting at MPC. Indoor Forest Theater, Mountain View and Santa Rita, Carmel. $15/General; $10/Seniors. 624-1531. Closes: 11/14.
Unicorn''s Family Fantasy Theater Saturday, 2pm and 4pm; Sunday, 1pm and 3pm. Children. Unicorn Theater founder Carey Crockett adapts two classic children''s tales for a young audience, aged three and up. He sets The Story of Rip Van Winkle in a Northern California logging community, giving it an environmentalist twist; and the Headless Horseman gallops across stage in Ichabod Crane and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Hoffman Playhouse, 320 Hoffman Ave., Monterey. $5/General. 649-0259. Closes: 11/14.
West Side Story Thursday-Saturday, 7:30pm. Musical. The Sharks hate the Jets, Tony loves Maria, their families disapprove...one of the most successful updates of Romeo and Juliet, Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim''s Broadway musical West Side Story is a favorite of high school drama departments. This production is put on by Monterey High students. $8/General; $5/MHS students. Monterey High School lecture hall, 101 Herrmann Dr., Monterey. 649-1004, ext. 233. Closes: 11/13.
Auditions
Saturday, 11/20, 2-5pm. Magic Circle Center holds auditions for three productions: Social Security, Mr. Bundy, and The Goodbye People. Male and female actors of all ages are needed, especially men over 60. Actors are paid. 8 El Caminito, Carmel Valley. Call 659-8244 for details.
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