Neighbor News
Somerset Valley Players Comedy A Prescription to Laugh
Rehearsals Allow Cast to Make Characters Their Own
Hillsborough, NJ – There’s an old adage in show business: Dying is easy; comedy is hard. From Shakespeare’s time on down, actors and directors have discovered that it’s hard work to make audiences laugh. The Somerset Valley Players in Hillsborough are dead serious about being funny as they rehearse their 2018 season opener, the comedy “Love, Lives, and the Doctor’s Dilemma.”
“Though important in all genres of theater, timing is much more critical in comedy,” says director Michael A. Muller. “For me, comedy is more fun to direct as the actors start coming up with ideas and ‘schtick’ of their own, the kind of nuances that grow out of rehearsing.”
“The script for ‘Love, Lies and the Doctor’s Dilemma’ is already hilarious,” Muller adds. “I read it on the beach this summer, and I laughed so hard the other beachgoers kept looking. I knew from the start it was a crowd pleaser. Now, as I watch what ‘business’ the actors have come up with during rehearsal, it only enhances the script, my vision, and the overall quality of the production.”
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Written by Michael Parker and Susan Parker, the comedy begins with one little white lie, which leads to mistaken identities that bring a widow, gardener, mobster, deadbeat son, Hollywood star, and a walking disaster of a neighbor together in love and laughter.
“What may be most difficult about directing a comedy,” continues Muller, “is the casting process. Actors have to prove to me during the audition that they’re comfortable with improvisation, can think on their feet, and can roll with their character no matter what happens on stage. That’s a lot to ask from an actor, and I’m thrilled our cast is up to the task.”
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Stage Manager Shannen Rivers ensures that the production runs smoothly. “Last year’s January show was a technical demanding comedy. We had a rotating bar and working fireplace on set, a ghost tossing books off a bookshelf, a snow storm, and lots of light and sound cues,” she explains. “This show is simpler. The focus is on the actors, and they’re ready to give a great performance and delight our audience."
“Somerset Valley Players love opening our seasons with comedy,” states producer Holly J. Kowalenko. “Patrons are tired from the stress of the holidays, the cold weather, and a comedy gives them the chance to relax, laugh, and smile along with us.”
"Love, Lies and the Doctor’s Dilemma” opens Friday, January 19, and runs weekends through Sunday, February 4. Friday and Saturday performances are evenings, and Sundays are matinees.
Somerset Valley Players are located at 689 Amwell Road (Route 514) in Hillsborough. For information about show times, tickets and volunteer/sponsorship opportunities, go to www.svptheatre.org.
