Theater Review: 'An Evening of One Acts' at Ridgefield Theater Barn

by Nancy Sasso Janis

The Ridgefield Theater Barn is once again presenting their annual “An Evening of Acts.” This year, the always entertaining evening features seven original unpublished works.

Paulette Layton is the One Acts Committee Chair and busy production manager of this production. Mark Hankla served as the lighting designer with Addis Engel in charge of sound design. There are some well-chosen snips of music between the seven one act plays. Layton writes that, as usual, “a theme for the festival coalesced… the question of intentions, hidden agendas and perhaps even a bit of deceit and manipulation.”

Because of construction going on at The Barn, the actors have no backstage area and minimal space in the wings. Therefore, the actors enter and exit through the main aisle of the small space. The casts rehearsed for two months in borrowed spaces and they only were allowed five days of rehearsal in the space before their first performance. The sets and props are simple but just enough.

The evening has a strong start with “An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah,” a play written by John Bavoso and directed by Gina Pulice. This is what may have happened after the Biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. After luring Isaac to the top of Mount Moriah under false pretenses and nearly sacrificing him, Abraham is faced with the even more arduous task of attempting to make small talk with his son during their long walk home.

This piece features the deep voice of David Tate as Father Abraham (pictured at left above) and Josh Adelson (at right) as his annoyed son Isaac.

“No Good Deed,” written by Ed Friedman and directed by Deborah Carlson, is up second. In this work co-workers reassess their relations after one attends a one-woman show performed by the other. Mark Hankla (pictured above left) does well as Benny and Pamme Jones (at right) is the actress Brenda in a costume cape made of black feathers.

“Bassinette,” a fun piece written by Kate Katcher, is directed by Gregory Liosi. Madeline (played by Sheri Rak of Ridgefield) recruits her daughter Robin (played by Cheryl Hughes in her RTB debut) to help her in the purchase of a second hand bassinet. The seller Shauna, portrayed by Emily Volpintesta, is eager to sell to an expectant mother. It would seem straightforward, but of course, all is not what it appears.

The fourth one act is entitled “Group.” It was written by Chris Griffin and is directed by Brian DeToma. This is a support group for souls from far-reaching eras in history that are stuck in purgatory. Don’t miss that the characters refer to God with “she” pronouns.

In probably the longest piece of the evening, Rachel Ames plays Angela, the group leader, Thomas Stubbs makes his RTB debut as Cornelius and Bill Warncke plays the newest member of the group, Walt. Taffy Miller of Weston as Marianne and Lindsay Clouse (a Sacred Heart University grad) as Jackie round out the largest cast of the evening.

“Incorrigible” is a piece in which a mother and daughter prepare for a tag sale and much more. It was written by Bara Swain and directed by Craig David Rosen. It features Rachel Dalton as the mother and Janice Rudolph as her daughter Sandy. This funny play includes some foul language and the great line “Aging isn’t for sissies.”

“Rugby’s Angels,” written by Joe Carlisle, is set in Laurel Canyon, California in 1988. In this nod to old television shows, Jimmy is trying to sell a pilot to the industry and he recruits two friends to read it out loud for him just before his meeting. Directed by David Fritsch, Mark Hankla (pictured above at right) returns to play Jimmy, Angie Joachim (“Stepping Out” in Sherman) plays Ruth (center) in her RTB debut and Pamme Jones (above left) returns to play Hazel.

The final offering is “Stealing a Kiss,” a touching and funny piece written by Laurie Allen and directed by Linda Seay. In probably my favorite piece of the evening, two elderly citizens meet at a bus stop. Raindrops turn to rain, and the two end up sharing an umbrella. Larry Greeley is a delight as Harvey and Stephanie Hepburn is equally good as Sue. The audience loved this work that closed the evening.

The evening is presented without an intermission, but there is time between the plays to take a sip of any beverage that you bring. There are only a couple of four-letter words in a few of the scripts. “An Evening of One Acts” continues through April 1, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm Sunday matinees March 19 and 26 at 2pm. The two Sunday matinees that are followed by talk-backs have already sold out.

Cabaret seating; Bring food & drink. Doors open one hour prior to curtain. Snacks available in the lobby. Tickets $35 for adults; $30 for seniors, students and veterans *Don't mind the "Construction Chic" atmosphere while renovations continue. Tickets at ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org/one-acts/

To launch the first season in the newly expanded space, the Barn will bring “The Prom” to the mainstage in September, “An Evening of One Acts” will return in March and “The Baker’s Wife” will close the season. There will be upcoming announcements about the holiday and February shows.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.