Fringe Theater Opens Season With Alice’s Parlor

Fringe Theater Opens Season With Alice’s Parlor

Fringe Theater Key West opens its 2016-17 season with its annual fundraiser Alice’s Parlor in the Parish Hall at St Paul’s, Nov 16-20 at 7pm. This collection of short plays, written by Alice Gerstenberg and her friends, is acted and directed by your friends!

“Audiences just love seeing their friends and neighbors on stage alongside folks who’ve been acting in Key West for years,” Janet Bengel, Fringe’s board president explains. “It’s a great learning opportunity. And always entertaining for the audience!”

Alice’s Parlor features six directors and twenty-three actors in six plays written in and around 1916. The plays themes tackle issues that are still relevant 100 years later.

The show opens with Susan Glaspell’s popular murder mystery “Trifles.” Did a farmhouse wife kill her husband? This evocative story is directed by Annie Miners and features Rebecca Gleason, Jeanne Tindel, John McDonald, Don Bearden, and Bob Rowand.

“The Game,” written by journalist Louise Bryant (on whom the movie Reds was based), personifies the relationship between Life and Death as they throw the dice to determine fates. “The Game” is directed by Deb Kik and features Deborah Jacobson, Mathias Maloff, Morgan Fraga, and John Van Norden.

In Susan Glaspell’s “Woman’s Honor,” a young man would rather hang than reveal the identity of his lover which rallies the women in with hilarious results. “Woman’s Honor” is directed by Alicia Merel and features Diane May, Don Bearden, Donna Stabile, Joan Sullivan, John Van Norden, Mia Shawn, Marisa Faraldo, and Monique Griffin.

“The Rescue,” written by Rita Creighton Smith, explores the effect heredity may have on issues of suicide and depression, and is credited as the origin of Eugene O’Neil’s theme for Strange Interlude. “The Rescue” is directed by Karen Leonard and features Karen Grant, Susan Butler, and Deborah Snelgrove.

JM Barrie, better known as the creator of Peter Pan, explores the suffocating roles or social and cultural expectations in his short play “The Twelve Pound Look.” This parlor comedy is directed by Richard Grusin and features Ellen Rickert, John McDonald, Stephanie Miller, and Traci Reynolds.

“The Illuminati in Drama Libre,” written by Alice Gerstenberg, explores surrealism as a theatrical devise. “Illuminati” is directed by Rebecca Tomlinson and features Alicia Merel and Don Beardon.

Will Alice herself be there to greet her parlor guests as in year’s past? “I suppose the audience will have to drop by for a visit to find out,” smiles Alicia Merel, the production’s coordinator.

Alice’s Parlor runs Nov 16-20 at 7pm in the Parish Hall at St Paul’s Episcopal Church (401 Duval St). There is no parking on church property, though city parking is available near the church. Tickets can be purchased online at www.fringetheater.org or by calling 305-731-0581. Use code FRINGE20 at checkout and save 20% on your purchase (for any Fringe show). Limited Offer.

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