It's Oscar Night at Malibu Stage Co.

The 2011 season begins on Friday for the with the world premiere of English playwright Peter Quilter's A Night at the Oscars. Performances will continue through March 20.

A Night at the Oscars is a comedy that flashes back and forth from present time to the past, and tells the story of two aging actors who are husband and wife. While the man, Mr. Chance, is still getting work, his wife struggles to get jobs. 

Malibu Patch recently caught up by e-mail with Quilter in London.

Malibu Patch: This play is obviously going to precede the Academy Awards by a couple of weeks. What is the connection? And what kind of statement on Hollywood are you making with this piece?

Peter Quilter: The play is about a couple fading stars who have one last moment in the spotlight before they contemplate retirement. It was inspired by many old actors that I know who find it impossible to let go of the business. They hang on for just one more job, just one more round of applause. The Oscars is a great setting for this kind of story because it's the ultimate moment in the spotlight; an intense, thrilling, mad event. I thought it would be a great setting for the witty, charismatic actor characters that I wanted to create.

Patch: Have you ever been to the Oscars yourself?  

Quilter: No, because I don't work in the movies. I'm strictly a theater writer. But I've been to all the theater awards—and they're the same, crazy eccentric events.

Patch: What do you enjoy about writing plays that you can't get out of screenwriting?

Quilter: I like dialogue. My writing is all about people talking, arguing, reminiscing, cracking jokes. Cinema is much more visual. You can't really create a compelling 20-minute conversation on screen. But in theater, this is what people want—great dialogue and characters, rather than short snappy scenes with a few words. So theater is the right kind of writing for me to do.

Patch: What did you think about this year's nominations? Do you think The Social Network will win or do you think The King's Speech has a chance?

Quilter: I think The King's Speech will win. The Academy is still dominated by traditional filmmakers. They like "old-fashioned" movies. 

Patch: Why are you debuting this piece at the Malibu Stage Co.? What is it about the company and Malibu as a town for theater that you're attracted to?

Quilter: They did a great production of my comedy Glorious! a couple years ago, and when Richard [Johnson] asked if he could premiere this new piece, I thought, “Well, why not?” He's a dedicated, inventive producer; the audience is enthusiastic and you're in California. I mean, if you're going to premiere a play about the Oscars, where else should you do it but California?

Night at the Oscars opens at the Malibu Stage Co., 29243 Pacific Coast Highway, on Friday at 8 p.m. Performances will continue through March 20 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. There will be a 2 p.m. performance on Feb. 27. Tickets are $25. To purchase them, call 310-589-1998 or go here.