Chester Theatre Group

The Recorder newspapers gave our current production of “Improbable Fiction” a rave review.  Sheila Abrams said of our production “If you believe in the curative power of laughter, make sure you get to the Black River Playhouse in Chester… [i]t may very well provide a balm for what ails you.”

The full text of the review can be found at the Recorder Community News site:

Improbable Fiction runs through May 17th.

Full details about the show can be found here.

Continuing our year-long “Unheard Ayckbourn” Reading Series, the Chester Theatre Group presents a reading of Alan Ayckbourn’s “GamePlan” on Sunday, May 24 at 3pm at the Black River Playhouse.

Written in 2001 as part of the playwright’s DAMSELS IN DISTRESS trilogy, the play concerns a teenage girl named Sorrel, who will do anything to help out her unemployed mum Lynette and avoid having to sell their London flat – even to the point of ‘going on the game’. But when her first client, a retired dry cleaner named Leo, unexpectedly dies, Sorrel and her best friend Kelly find themselves in a lot deeper than they bargained for.

The cast features Ayckbourn veterans Cody Dalton (Snake in the Grass, Improbable Fiction), Valerie DeLeon, Elizabeth Urcinoli (Improbable Fiction, Wildest Dreams), David Neal (The Norman Conquests, Improbable Fiction, Wildest Dreams, Sugar Daddies), Maria Brodeur (Improbable Fiction), Michael Mooney and Eric Rolland (Improbable Fiction).

General admission is $5. Call 908.879.7304 for reservations.

Improbable Fiction opens May 1.

The CHESTER THEATRE GROUP in residence at the BLACK RIVER PLAYHOUSE will present the American Premiereof Improbable Fiction, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn.

Improbable Fiction will be directed by Michael T. Mooney (of Mount Olive) and produced by Penny Hoadley (of Brookside).

Starring David Neal (of Fanwood), Elizabeth Urcinoli (of Hackettstown), Bob Sackstein (of Chester), Julianne DiPietro-Renshaw (of Maplewood), Cody Dalton (of Montclair), Maria Brodeur (of Rockaway), and Eric Rolland (of Freehold).

Fridays & Saturdays, May 1 through 16 at 8pm and Sunday, May 17 at 2pm. For reservations and information: 908.879.7304 General Admission $18, Students & Seniors $16. All performances at the Black River Playhouse, corner of Grove and Maple, Chester, New Jersey.

Six aspiring authors meet on a winter’s evening to discuss their work. Among them are writers of historical romances and children’s literature who are finding it difficult to start writing, and a crime writer who can’t stop! A creator extremely complicated science fiction, a librettist without a musical partner and the Writer’s Circle chairman, who produces instruction booklets, make up the team.

The chairman, Arnold, attempts to get the rest of the group out of a rut by suggesting that they collaborate on a piece of writing, an idea that is received without enthusiasm. However, as Arnold is clearing up after the meeting, there is a clap of thunder, a black-out – and the story that would have resulted from the collaboration takes place before his very eyes.

FACTS ABOUT IMPROBABLE FICTION:

1. This is the American Premiere of the play.
2. The title is a quote from Shakespeare’s *Twelfth Night.*
3. It was originally produced in 2005 in Scarborough, England, directed by the author. A short tour of the provinces followed, but the play did not go to the West End.
4. It is Ayckbourn’s 69th play (of the current 72 he has written). His 73rd will premiere later this year in Scarborough.
5. The play is being presented here in the round, just as it was originally staged by Ayckbourn.
6. 2009 marks Ayckbourn’s 70th birthday and his 50th year of writing plays.
7. Ayckbourn is currently represented on Broadway by the Old Vic revival of THE NORMAN CONQUESTS trilogy at Circle-in-the-Square
8. The cast of this production have (all but one) appeared in many other Ayckbourn plays.
9. Chester Theatre Group has presented 4 American Premieres of Alan Ayckbourn plays and 15 other productions of his work, including two productions of the full NORMAN CONQUESTS trilogy.
10. Director Michael Mooney studied theatre in the round with Ayckbourn in England and is founder of the 4A’s – Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America

The Chester Theatre Group, in residence at the Black River Playhouse, continues it’s year-long celebration of Alan Ayckbourn’s 50th year of playwriting with a reading of his rarely staged 1991 play WILDEST DREAMS on Sunday, March 29th at 3pm.   The story concerns a group of misfits who get together on a weekly basis to play a dungeons and dragons-like role playing game and eventually become so wrapped up in the game that they can no longer fit into the real world.

The cast features Carol Holland of Long Valley, Jamie More of South Plainfield, Peter Kendall of  Wayne, Elizabeth Urcinoli of Hackettstown and Whitney Shields of Phillipsburg.

Rounding out the cast are Carla Kendall of Wayne, Suebeth Baumgartner of Califon, David Neal of Fanwood, and Chris Mortenson of Oldwick.

The reading is under the direction of Michael T. Mooney of Budd Lake

$5.00 Donation Requested

The reading is produced by the 4A’s – the Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America – a company made up of actors who have performed in many of the author’s 72 plays.   Mr. Mooney, the founder of the 4A’s, has studied theatre in the round with Sir Alan in Scarborough, England.

Sir Alan Ayckbourn, who turns 70 on April 12th, has endorsed the Chester festivities, saying “How splendid and how touching that you have chosen to share your 50th with mine.  My message to Chester is this: Life begins at 50!  So onwards and ever upwards.”

Chester Theatre Group is offering a special “Ayckbourn All-Access Pass” for theatre-goers wishing to participate in all the year’s events.  To order a Pass or for further information on the events, please call 908.879.7304.  The Black River Playhouse is located at the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, New Jersey.