Main Stage Series

NOV. 2 - 20, 2016

UNNECESSARY FARCE

By Paul Slade Smith
Directed by Russell Treyz

Two cops. Three crooks. Eight doors. Go! In a cheap motel room, an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his female accountant, while in the room next-door, two undercover cops wait to catch the meeting on videotape. But there's some confusion as to who's in which room, who's being videotaped, who's taken the money, who's hired a hit man, and why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes.

"Paul Slade Smith adds his name to the very short list of playwrights able to construct a consistently funny farce." — Stage Magazine

"Non-stop hilarity. Gets us laughing in the show's first minute. Unnecessary Farce? Don't you believe it! Nothing could be more necessary for your well-being." — Kate O'Neill, The Lansing State Journal (Michigan)

Go To Tickets PageBuy TicketsBack to Shows

Performance Schedule

Previews on November 2 & 3; all seats $17.50.
Opening Night: November 4- wine and cheese reception before the show
Performances:
Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm
Friday & Saturday at 8:00 pm
Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm, followed by a talk back with the cast.



Full Calendar

Media

Press:

About the Author
Hartford Courant
Weha.com

Critics Weigh In
--
CT Now.com
--Talkin' Broadway
--Stu on Broadway
--CT Arts Connection
--BroadwayWorld.com

Production Photos

Proto credit: Meredith Atkinson

Cast

MIKE BOLAND* (Agent Frank) Playhouse on Park: LEND ME A TENOR; Broadway: AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE; Off-Broadway: THE ORPHANS’ HOME CYCLE; National Tours: TWELVE ANGRY MEN, WEST SIDE STORY, ALL MY SONS; Hartford Stage: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE ORPHANS’ HOME CYCLE; Theaterworks: THE EXONERATED; Long Wharf: SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, WIT, MYSTERY SCHOOL, A QUESTION OF MERCY, RACE; Other Regional Theater: Fulton Theatre, Virginia Stage, Judson Theatre, Engeman, Bristol Riverside, Westchester Broadway, Totem Pole, Ivoryton, Music Theatre of Connecticut, Summer Theater of New Canaan. TV: Person of Interest, Zero Hour, Rubicon. FILM: Bobby Dogs. WEBSERIES: Frank and Ernie (writer, director, co-star). mikeboland.nyc.

JOHN-PATRICK DRISCOLL* (Todd) Playhouse on Park Debut! Off-Broadway credits include: The Cherry Lane: MANIPULATION; La Mama Etc.: THE CHERRY ORCHARD SEQUEL; The Cherry Lane: THE VELVET GENTLEMAN; NY Classical: HAMLET, KING LEAR, MACBETH, RICHARD III; TITAN theatre company: KING LEAR, IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST; Regional credits include work with Florida Repertory Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Shakes, Virginia Stage Company, Texas Repertory Theatre, among others. TV credits include: THE BLACKLIST, FOREVER, BLUE BLOODS, HOUSE OF CARDS, LAW & ORDER SVU, THE FOLLOWING, HOSTAGES, BROOKLYN TAXI, AND FOR JUSTICE (directed by Ava DuVernay). JP’s next project will be directing a film titled THE STRANGER in Mexico City, Mexico, and Coriolanus with TITAN.  MFA from USC and proud member of SAG-AFTRA / AEA. johnpatrickdriscoll.com All love to mom, Jackie, Jerry, Katie, Kannon, and Jeremy.

WILL HARDYMAN (Eric Sheridan) Playhouse on Park Debut! Pasoga Centre for the Arts: Katurian THE PILLOWMAN; Miles Square Theatre: Cristian, De Guiche CYRANO; Ghostlight Theatricals: Baron Tusenbach THREE SISTERS; Rutgers Theatre: Vanya UNCLE VANYA, Jasper THE ALIENS, Butch Honeywell THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT. Film: CUSTODY by James Lapine.  Will has an MFA in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts in NJ and is originally from Seattle.  He is very proud to be a part of this wonderful cast and production. Thank you!

RUTH NEAVEILL (Mary Meekly) Playhouse on Park: Lillian Troy I HATE HAMLET; The Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, DC): THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, PRIVATE LIVES; Centenary Stage Company: Mrs. Garrick and Mrs. Barry A LAUGHING MATTER; Grounded Theater: Martha WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?; Kentucky Contemporary Theater: Emily Dickinson THE BELLE OF AMHERST; Court Theater (Chicago): Old Woman us/body double THE CHAIRS, New American Theatre: Sister Clarissa OVER THE TAVERN.  Thanks to all at POP for your humor, talent, and support.

EVERETT O'NEILL (Mayor Meekly) Playhouse on Park Debut! Huntington Theater Co: Snug MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina: Mr. Meeker INHERIT THE WIND and Judge Taylor TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD; Mind The Art Entertainment: Arris Warner BEWARE THE CHUPACABRA! Everett graduated from Boston University with a BFA in Acting (Magna Cum Laude ’96). For Mom and Skip, “love you more.”

JULIE ROBLES (Karen) Playhouse on Park debut! Regional: Triad Stage, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. New York: La MaMa E.T.C., Under St. Marks, The Red Room. MFA: The University of North Carolina- Greensboro. BFA: Pace University’s School of Performing Arts. www.julierobles.com

SUSAN SLOTOROFF (Billie): Playhouse on Park: THE DINING ROOM, Deirdre I HATE HAMLET, Audrey 2 LITTLE SHOP. Selected Credits: Shadowland Stages: Ruthie MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, Roz MOON OVER BUFFALO, Billie UNNECESSARY FARCE; Arts Center of Coastal Carolina: Maggie LEND ME A TENOR; WPPAC: Louise FOX ON THE FAIRWAY; NYC Gershwin Theatre: Glinda WICKED “FOR GOOD.” Susan’s the founder and co-director of the BC/EFA Broadway Run www.BroadwayCares.org/BroadwayRun Love and thanks to the Playhouse family. BFA - Elon University. www.Susan-Slotoroff.com  For Grandma, always.

RUSSELL TREYZ (Director) Playhouse on Park: TRAPEZIUM. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM. His latest NY work was The Gym at Judson: THE BONUS ARMY Mr Treyz has directed productions for Broadway, Off Broadway, and regional theaters across the nation. In New York, he won a Drama Desk Award and has directed productions for Playwright’s Horizons, American Place Theater, La Mama ETC, and the Pearl Theater Co. His regional work includes productions at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theater of Louisville, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, the Cape Playhouse, Florida Studio Theater, McCarter Theater, Goodspeed Opera House, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and Northshore Music Theater.He co-authored COTTON PATCH GOSPEL a musical with music and lyrics by Harry Chapin. He directed a short film (with his daughter, Amanda Treyz as Cinematographer): NORTH OF PROVIDENCE (Winner Best of the Festival Award - Great Lakes Film Festival). He is a graduate of Princeton and Yale Universities.  

*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity, the profession union for actors and stage managers.

Season Sponsors


Community Sponsors



Playhouse Partners