By RONDA GREGORY
News & Journal Staff Writer
ACT2 Theatre Company will present “SIN, SEX AND THE CIA”March 10-13 and March 17-20 at the group’s new location at 318 West Main Street, Clarksburg -also home of My Little Cupcake and My Mother’s Daughter.
Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
\The play, directed by Rex Kelch by special arrangement with Samuel French, is not as provocative as its title implies, said Kelch.
“The playwrights Michael and Susan Parker describe it as ‘the traditional naughty but nice’,” Kelch grinned. But he added seriously, “There is no bad language or nudity.”
He continued describing the play as “an American farce”, where mishaps, misadventures and interactions get skewed into looking like something they are not, creating a myriad of hilariousconfusion.
“It’s about people getting in compromising situations that aren’t compromising but are based on a misunderstanding,”
Kelch explained. “That’s what the ‘naughty but nice’ description is about.”
The director said a character in the play stands out. “One of the great characters is the Reverend Samuel Abernathy. He’s a fire-and-brimstone preacher to the extreme,” Kelch said. “But all the situations he finds are not the sinful situations he thinks they are.”
A brief snapshot of the plot: The one-set play takes place in present day in a cabin – actually a C.I.A. safe house in the mountains of Virginia. Huge oil reserves have been discovered in The Chagos Islands, a vast archipelago stretching for hundreds of miles across the Indian Ocean. O.P.E.C. is pressuring the Chagosians to join the cartel. The Chagosians, however, are interested in placing
themselves under the protection of the United States.
A secret meeting between a representative of the islands and a U.S. undersecretary of state, Margaret Johnson (Misty Wells), has been arranged in the safe house. Unfortunately, no one knows who the island’s representative reallyis. Concerned about possible O.P.E.C. interference, the C.I.A. has sent agent Luke James (Dan Hawkins) to secure the cabin. An eager beaver on his first field assignment, we are left to wonder how he ever got the job. He gets caught in all his own booby traps.
James also manages to electrocute himself, sethimself on fire, get a bucket stuck on his head…and if that isn’t enough, he finally locks himself in his own handcuffs!
As the rest of the quirky characters come on the scene, more mayhem and misunderstandings ensue.
Cyndy Simons-Straight, assistant director, said she and their theatre group hope everyone comes out to see the “hysterical” play for a good laugh and some fun…and to just enjoy theatre as a whole.
“It’s a diversion, especially being a comedy,” she stated. “It takes people’s minds off of what is going wrong in the world and in their stressful daily lives. Laughter is good for you, and this play is going to make people laugh. It relieves stress by taking you to a different realm.”
She continued: “Any time you have an opportunity to see live theater in your own community, you should, because it’s so exciting. And I think it’s important to support the arts in general because they are always hard hit [regarding financial support], and they are an important and enjoyable part of life.”
Cost is $10 per seat and is café style. Pay at the door.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to make reservations by emailing act2theatre@gmail.com. If you don’t have Internet access, you may leave a message with the ACT2 Theatre Company’s message service at 304-918-0010. Please include your name, number of people in your party, the date attending, and contact information so the reservation can be confirmed.
The ACT2 Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose performances and events are staffed and performed by volunteers from the local community.
