Play On
by Rick Abbot
March 12 - April 3, 2010

A behind the scenes comedy in the tradition of Noises Off. A theatre group is trying desperately to put on a play in spite of the maddening interference from a haughty authoress who keeps revising the script. It takes place in three acts. Act one is a rehearsal four days before opening night. Act two is the last dress rehearsal. Act three is the opening night of the play.

Characters In The Play:

Jerry, the Director
Louise, the Sound and Lights person
Lawrence (Larry), the Stage Manager
Phyllis Montague, the Author
Polly Beamish playing Lady Margaret
Henry Beamish playing Lord Dudley
Saul Watson playing Dr Forbes, famous scientist and villain
Violet Imrie playing Diana Lassiter, an inguene
Billy playing Steven Sellers, millionaire
Marla 'Smitty' Smith playing Doris, the Maid

Theater review: California Actors Theater’s “Play On!”
Longmont Ledger, March 15, 2010

Midway through the first act of the comedy “Play On!” one character exclaims: “Do you have any idea how hard it is to do a play!?” What, with memorizing all those lines, worrying about wigs, dealing with hyper-sensitive actors, forgetful stage managers, cranky directors and bothersome writers?

Rick Abbott’s 1980 play-within-a-play puts a mirror up to what sometimes happens in that final week before the first curtain. Though it was published two years earlier, “Play On!” is sort of a poor man’s “Noises Off” – a backstage farce, only without the revolving stage.

In “Play On!” harried actors and stagehands are taxed by a tinkering playwright. Phyllis, the writer, keeps adding new pages and changing the already impossible-to-decipher murder mystery plot days before the first audience is to arrive.

The California Actors Theatre’s Longmont production of “Play On!” is funniest when members of its ensemble relish poking fun at themselves. And when it portrays most accurately what it’s like to suffer once the stage lights come up.

Jackie Tisinai shines as the troupe’s leading lady. The only thing shrinking about her Violet is her brain. This ingenue is a delightfully dim bulb.

Nicholas Lee turns Henry, the ensemble’s patriarch, into a lovable version of one of those actors oh-so devoted to elocution. Jennifer Scheidies’ Polly is a wonderfully thin-skinned diva.

When the action starts, Robert Bubon, playing leading man Billy, channels Captain James T. Kirk — or at least William Shatner’s stilted, unintentionally funny acting style. Whenever the show threatens to veer off-track, Bubon steers it back.

...the CAT is a perfect fit for this kind of show. Nestled into a corner space in the Twin Peaks Mall, seeing a CAT production is like watching a show in a friends’ expanded living room.

There are cookies and tea to munch and sip, and rows of deck chairs for seats. Its makeshift vibe is unpretentious and inviting.

And, after all, CAT is a community theater troupe putting on a play about a community theater troupe putting on a play.

It may be hard, but this comedy is well within CAT’s reach.

All My Sons
by Arthur Miller
Directed by Kim Bubon
January 22 - February 13, 2010

Miller wrote All My Sons after his first play The Man Who Had All the Luck had been a complete failure on Broadway lasting only four performances. Miller wrote All My Sons as a final attempt at writing a commercially successful play - if the play failed to find an audience Miller had vowed to "find some other line of work."

All My Sons is based upon a true story, which Arthur Miller's then mother-in-law pointed out in an Ohio newspaper. The story described how a child informed on her father who had sold faulty parts to the U.S. military during World War II. Asked in a TV interview what about the story had inspired him, Arthur Miller said, "I was fascinated by the idea that a child could have this kind of moral courage." When asked why he changed the gender of the character for his play, Miller said, "At the time I didn't understand women very well."

Starring:

Kate Keller - Marian Bennett
Joe Keller - David Barclay
Chris Keller - Robert Bubon
Ann Deever - Mandy Scott
George Deever - Robert Mess
Jim Bayliss - Tom Priestley
Sue Bayliss - Jan Davison
Frank Lubie - Nicholas Lee
Lydia Lubie - Julie Marino
Bertie - Sammi Bubon

by Robert Brooke

December 11 - December 20, 2009
 

In last year's play, "A Carol Christmas", Ethan met with three Christmas ghosts who completely changed his life.  Now, several years later, Ethan finds that everyone else's demands on him are taking away his Christmas Spirit. What is the solution? The answer comes from an old man dressed up like Santa (or is he?)..

Starring:

David Barclay as Ethan
Kim Bubon as Carole
Jennifer Scheidies as Secretary
Jason Stolken as Freddie
Sammy Bubon as Young Girl
Ben Bubon as Young Boy
Julie Marino as Freddie's Wife
Kris Kringle as Old Man in Santa Suit

by Anthony Shaffer
Directed by Robert Bubon

October 23 - November 14, 2009

A scary story for the Halloween Season.

A man who loves games and theater invites his wife's lover to meet him, setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results.

Starring:

Nicholas Lee as Andrew Wyke
Robert Bubon as Milo Tindle
Philip Farrar as inspector Doppler
Roger Purnell as Det. Sgt. Tarrant
Harold Newman as Constable Higgs

Comments From Our Fans:

A great tour de force by these wonderful actors. A thoroughly delightful play. jc, Longmont

Harry Binion, Gregory Wagner, Faker England and Gordon Miller ponder the problems of producing a play with no money.

Joseph Gribble, Senator Blake and Greg Wagner discuss the play's success (or not).

There is nothing sadder than a "dying" actor (or funnier).

Room Service

by John Murrey and Allen Boretz
Directed by Robert Bubon

September 4th - 26th, 2009

A nimble-witted producer, living on credit with several actors in a Broadway hotel, is desperately in need of a good script. He finds one, and, by great good luck, he also finds an angel with $15,000. The play shows how during a hectic few days, the producer plays hide-and-seek with the angel who wants to withdraw his financial support, manages to outwit creditors, and at the very last moments puts over his play in spite of the most ludicrous and unexpected obstacles.

Starring:

Nicholas Lee as Sasha Smirnoff/Dr. Glass 
Paul Chilson as Gordon Miller
Robert Bubon as Joseph Gribble
Dale Li as Harry Binion
Le Donahue as Faker Englund
Kim Bubon as Christine Marlow
Jason Stolken as Leo Davis
Angela Tuomela as Hilda Manney
David Barclay as Gregory Wagner
Larry Westrum as Simon Jenkins/Timothy Hogarth
John Chilson as Senator Blake

Comments From Our Fans:

Three words describe this play and how the California Actors Theatre presents it... funny, Funny, FUNNY!!! J.C., Longmont

Let me get this straight ... I get in for 10 bucks, get to drink free wine, accidentally walk into the woman's dressing room, AND get to scream at Rob on stage?? Is that what heaven's like? db, Longmont

‘Room Service’ delivers comic relief.  Longmont Times-Call
Click here to read the full article by the Longmont Times-Call