Chester Theatre Group

The Chester Theatre Group presented the comedy The Cocktail Hour by A. R. Gurney on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm November 5 to the 19 and Sunday at 2 pm, November 13 and 20, 2011, at the Black River Playhouse, located at the corner of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester, NJ.  READ THE PRESS REVIEW

Winner of the Lucille Lortel Award as Best Off-Broadway Play. A long-run New York success, this witty, perceptive play blends mordant humor with moments of affecting poignancy. “THE COCKTAIL HOUR is as funny and moving as The Dining Room…it could be the best play he has done so far.” —The New Yorker.

“It makes for a deliciously funny and also occasionally touching evening, as Gurney’s family sit around raking over old coals and settling old scores with a quite new and beguiling freshness.” —NY Post. “The lines in the play crackle and pop with an electricity all their own.” — Drama-Logue.…”when I watch Gurney at his best, as he is here, I laugh through the tears.” —NY Daily News.

The Cocktail Hour was directed by Cindy Alexander (Annandale). The cast included: Michael Foley (Andover) , Penny Hoadley (Brookside), AnnDonne Pepito (Somerset), and Steve Catron (Mendham).

The time is the mid ’70s, the place a city in upstate New York. John, a playwright, returns to his family’s house, bringing with him a new play which he has written about them. His purpose is to obtain their permission to proceed with production, but his wealthy, very proper parents are cautious from the outset. For them the theatre is personified by the gracious, comforting era of the Lunts and Ina Claire, and they are disturbed by the bluntness of modern plays. And there is also John’s sister, Nina, to contend with, although her reservations have to do with the fact that John has given her character such a minor role. Their confrontation takes place during the ritual of the cocktail hour, and as the martinis flow so do the recriminations and revelations, both funny and poignant. In the end it is evident that what John has written is closer to the truth than his family has heretofore been willing to admit, and that beneath their WASP reserve his parents and siblings are as beset with uncertainties and frustrations as their presumed “inferiors.” But while they seem shackled by the past, and tantalized disappointments and, with unfailing warmth and humor, converting pained resignation into cautious but hopeful anticipation.

Tickets  $18 ($16 for Seniors/Students). Reservations call 908-879-7304.       VIEW SCENES FROM THE COCKTAIL HOUR BELOW

Our  production of Grey Gardens this summer was described as a  “must see” event.

Here’s a gallery of shots from the show over at Flickr:

CTG’s Summer Musical was GREY GARDENS (Book by Doug Wright, Music by Scott Frankel and Lyrics by Michael Korie)  opened Friday, July 1st and runs until July 24. (2011) Friday & Saturday evenings at 8pm (July 1,2, 8, 9, 15, 16,22, 23) and  Sunday matinees at 2 pm (July 17 & 24).  Tickets $24 general admission, seniors and students are $22.

This CTG production was co-directed by Jeffrey Fiorello and Mark Happel, with musical direction by Clifford Parish. Ericka Traugh was the stage manager.

Our Cast

• Edith Bouvier Beale: Barbi McGuire
• “Little Edie” Edie Beale/Edith Bouvier Beale: Barb Haag
• Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr/ Jerry: Tom Cioppettini
• Young “Little Edie” Edie Beale: Sandy Taylor
• Lee Bouvier: Julianne Grillo
• Brooks Jr./ Brooks Sr.: Alistar Williams
• J.V. “Major” Bouvier/ Norman Vincent Peale: Rich Maloy
• Jacqueline “Jackie” Bouvier: Hannah Curtis
• George Could Strong: Bob Jacobson

About The Show

GREY GARDENS is based (in part) on the Albert & David Maysels documentary concerning the relationship between Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ eccentric aunt and cousin. The touching and heart felt musical explores the unconventional mother-daughter relationship between former socialite Edith Bouvier Beal and her adult daughter Little Edie “body beautiful” Beal.

GREY GARDENS tells an entertaining and poignant story of two unconquerable women, once known as two of the brightest stars in the social register, who later become East Hampton’s most infamous “reclusive inhabitants”, sharing a rundown 28 room mansion with 52 stray cats and rabid racoons. From the glittering high society of 1940′s New York to the tabloid headlines that rocked the Kennedy clan in the 1970′s, GREY GARDENS hurls you into American royalty and leaves you to ponder the questions: “when do private lives become public fascinations?; How much is too much?; and Where does it stop?”

The Chester Theatre Group is proud to present MAURITIUS by Theresa Rebeck. Theproduction will have performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. beginning May 6, 2011 thru May 21, 2011, with one Sunday matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday May 15, 2011. Performances are held at the Black River Playhouse located at the corners of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester, NJ.

Can a play about stamp collecting be called a comedic drama? Yes, especially when the taut script is MAURITIUS by Theresa Rebeck. Mix Ms. Rebeck’s gripping tale with the talents of veteran director, Jay Mills and a cast of five stellar performers and what you get is an evening of intrigue, drama and a few laughs. Stamp collecting may be thought of as the quiet pursuit of dedicated older and younger enthusiasts but when the stamps in question wield the power to create epic sibling rivalry and can drive grown men to the brink of moral bankruptcy, well it isn’t as genteel as one might imagine. Stir in some questionable characters on the con and the plot thickens.

Bringing this film-noir like story to life are returning CTG stage veterans, Jill Bormann of Morristown (previously seen in PROOF) as Jackie, Carol Holland of Long Valley (most recently seen in FICTION) as Mary and Steven Nitka of Long Valley (hysterical in CTGs April 16th special event THE 10 COMMANDMENTS) as Phillip. Rounding out the cast and making their debut performances with CTG are David Romankow of Gillette as Dennis and George LaVigne of Hackettstown as Sterling.

Tickets are $18.00 with a Senior (65+)/Student (with School ID) discount ticket of $16.00 at all performances. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 908-879-7304.

There are only 7 performances so make your reservations now for this show which the press called “well-made”, “engrossing” and “emotionally fraught”.