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.

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

Chester Theatre Group, in residence at Black River Playhouse, announces auditions for the American premiere of IMPROBABLE FICTION by Alan Ayckbourn, a fast-paced look at a writer’s circle that suffers from collective writer’s block – until their creations come comically to life onstage!  Auditions will take place on Sunday, February 22nd at 2pm and Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30pm.

The cast consists of three men and four women ages 18 to 65.

Arnold (Male, 35-50) – a genial everyman who hosts the group; writes instruction booklets

Ilsa (Female, 18-25) – attractive young woman; tends to Arnold’s mother during the meetings

Brevis (Male, 60′s) – irascible former school teacher; writes musical comedy

Grace (Female, 40′s) – pale and fraught housewife and mother; writes and illustrates children’s stories

Vivvi (Female, 30′s) – effusive and attractive; writes 1930′s detective fiction

Clem (Male, 30′s) – awkward nerd; writes science fiction

Jess (Female, 40′s) - outdoorsy farmer; writes Victorian melodrama

All roles are available.  Performers should have proficiency with English dialect.  Audition will consist of script recitations.  Michael T. Mooney of Budd Lake directs the play.

Performances are in May 2009. The Black River Playhouse is located on the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, NJ.   For further information call 908.879.7304.