MCAP ‘rom com’ puts humor back into relationships
By:
Jamie Hult, Staff writer
Mighty Corson Art Players’ production of Getting Sara Married stars (from left) Beth Olsen, Alyssa Volmer-Johnson, Ryan Howe, Emily Baartman and Jeff Weber (in back). Jamie Hult/BV Journal
Sara Hastings is an unmarried lawyer in her mid-thirties, much too busy to get involved in romance. Her Aunt Martha has decided to take matters into her own hands and find Sara a husband in the Sam Bobrick comedy Getting Sara Married, the Mighty Corson Art Players’ spring show, which runs the next two weekends at the Corson Playhouse.
Aunt Martha’s choice for her reluctant niece is Brandon Cates, a young man who handles Aunt Martha’s finances. Although Brandon is engaged to be married, this does not deter Aunt Martha from employing a very unusual method of matchmaking.
Tickets are on sale now for the show, directed by Brian Schipper, with Rose Rhead serving as stage manager. Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 5-6 and 12-13. There will be 2:30 p.m. matinees on April 7 and 14.
Alyssa Volmer-Johnson will take the stage as Sara, while Beth Olsen will play Aunt Martha. They’ll reunite with their Glass Menagerie co-star Ryan Howe, who plays Brandon Cates, the man Aunt Martha wants to put a ring on Sara’s finger.
“Rather out of happenstance, it’s like we’re having a sort of mini Glass Menagerie reunion,” Schipper said. “And what’s actually been really, really interesting about it is there’ve been some weird parallels here with some of the plot threads. It’s like the romantic comedy sequel of The Glass Menagerie.”
Rounding out the cast are Emilie Baartman (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas) as Heather Boyd, Brandon’s fiancée, and two actors who are new to MCAP – Jeff Weber as Noogie Malloy, a delivery man who does Aunt Martha’s dirty work, and Kylie Murray, who is making her theatrical debut as Michelle.
“If you like rom coms, you’ll like this show. That’s what I tell people,” Volmer-Johnson said. “It’s a play version of a rom com.”
“It puts a sense of humor back into marriage and relationships,” Weber added.
MCAP staged the technically challenging whodunit The 39 Steps last fall, followed by the all-ages ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
This spring, the Art Players wrap up their 36th season with what they’re most known for – laughs.
“It’s sort of nice to return to the roots here and just do a good, old-fashioned comedy,” Schipper said.
Tickets for Getting Sara Married are available online at mightycorsonap.com or by calling the box office at 605-582-2771.
The community theatre group will announce next season’s lineup on opening night, April 5.
