North state audiences tend to turn out for comedies, and it appears Riverfront Playhouse is off to a excellent start with Michael Parker’s farce “Who’s In Bed With the Butler?”
The show’s director, Leon Compton, said the theater was packed for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon’s shows. It was the second weekend for the production.
“It looks like it’s going to be a good run,” said Compton. “On Sunday, people came from as far away as Weed and they just raved about it. I guess it’s this entire concept of being able to laugh again.”
Public performances take place on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons through Aug. 15 (the closing show is a Saturday night). There are also a series of “buyout” performances during the week sponsored by businesses and other organizations. One weekday show that’s open to the public is Tuesday, Aug. 11, sponsored by the Lion’s Club. For information on that show, call Norm at 223-5264.
Among the cast are several performers who know how to make people laugh, including Redding Improv veterans Russell Piette, Sean Sampson and Samantha Clark. The show also stars Riverfront Playhouse veteran Michelle Longee, Dan Kupsky (in his first lead role), Joan Scott and Bobette Ellis. Kupsky’s wife, Judy, lends her arm to the production (there’s some intrigue for you).
Parker’s play involves a California billionaire who dies and leaves his entire estate, including a winery, to his daughter Constance. There are three notable exceptions: He has left his $20 million yacht to a Miss Josephine Sykes, his priceless artwork to a Miss Renee LaFleur and his antique car collection to a Miss Marjorie Merivale. Constance, accompanied by her lawyer, Roy Vance, arrives at the mansion. They are greeted by Clifton, the butler, and an eccentric housekeeper, Agnes. Constance and Roy have two objectives in mind; first, to find out who these three women are, and secondly, by threatening to contest the will, to persuade them to settle for lesser amounts of money.
“Michael Parker, the man’s a brilliant writer,” Compton said.
To order tickets in advance and to reserve a seat, call or visit Graphic Emporium (1525 Pine St., 241-4278). The playhouse is located at the end of an industrial building at 1620 East Cypress Ave.
