Preview of “Barrymore" at Naugatuck Valley Community College

Waterbury - The Naugatuck Valley Community College Stage Society will present “Barrymore,” a play written by William Luce this weekend. The college had to reschedule this production due to a conflict involving Presidents Day. Performances are now scheduled for Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m.

The special performance stars retired professional actor Will Jeffries in the title role of John Barrymore. The production was directed by Don Stitt and features Kellen Schult.

The tour-de-force is often classified as a one-person play, but “Barrymore” actually makes use of a second character. The stage manager Frank interacts with the title character over the theater’s loudspeaker.

The setting is in the spring of 1942, a few months before Barrymore’s death. Each act begins with an entrance onto a New York stage that the sixty-year-old actor has rented to prepare for a comeback performance of “Richard III.” Barrymore jokes with the audience, spars with an offstage prompter, remembers better times, and does delightful imitations of his siblings Lionel and Ethel.

The actor’s attempted revival of “Richard III” never actually took place, but instead is a device that was invented by the playwright. It serves as a dramatic framework for the actor to reminisce about various episodes in his life and about the decline of his career due to alcoholism.

Originally scheduled for a six-week run on Broadway in 1997, “Barrymore” was held over multiple times and ran for over seven months. The late Christopher Plummer won a Tony Award for Best Actor for this role of the alcoholic, washed-up actor trying to remount a comeback.

“Barrymore” was first produced in 1996 at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada directed by Gene Saks.

Even those who are not familiar with John Barrymore can enjoy watching the character reminiscing about the laughs, joys, pain, and despair found throughout his life and career.

This production of “Barrymore” was recently sponsored by the Town Players of New Canaan at the Powerhouse Theatre for a two - weekend run.

The script cautions include alcohol, strong language and mild adult themes.

The two performances will take place in the NVCC Playbox, located on the third level of the Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Parkway in Waterbury. Masks are required for audience members and the performers will perform without masks. Suggested donation is $10.00.