Thank you to all who came out to enjoy this hilarious Neil Simon classic!
Bonnie Black, Beverley Taylor, Katherine Ailsa Hubbard and R. Buce Connelly star in the Last of the Red Hot Lovers!
Middle-aged Barney Cashman, who married his high school sweetheart, wants to have one sweeping extra-marital romantic fling in his tranquil, faithful, marriage before life passes him by. On three different afternoons, he brings women to his mother’s apartment while she’s at the hospital doing work. Behind plentiful laughs is a tender portrayal of a decent fellow who just can’t succeed in sinning.
This is a comedy that will linger with you even when the laughs become an appreciative memory.
Last of the Red Hot Lovers is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Generously sponsored by Clark Group and PCI Medical.
R. Bruce Connelly * (Barney Cashman) R. Bruce Connolly* appeared last at the Ivoryton Playhouse as Max Bialystock in The Producers and as Archie in celebration of the Playhouse’s 100th anniversary. Other roles here include the title role in Barnum, Felix Unger in The Odd Couple, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Finian in Finian’s Rainbow, Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace, Willie Clark in The Sunshine Boys and Max Prince in Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Other roles elsewhere include J.M. Barrie in The Lost Boy at the Helen Hayes Theatre, Murray Burns in A Thousand Clowns and title roles in The Man Who Came to Dinner, Scapino!, Uncle Vanya, The Music Man and half the town in Greater Tuna. Since 1993, Bruce has played Barkley, Jim Henson’s Muppet dog on Sesame Street for which he has been honored fifteen times by the National Academy of Television and Radio at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Beverley J Taylor (Elaine Navazio)
Beverley is happy to be on stage again at The Ivoryton Playhouse. Growing up in England, appearing on stage in both countries and moving here at 22 she finally feels like this is her home. Some of her favorite roles include, Nancy in Oliver, Nellie in South Pacific, Anna in The King & I, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Eleanor in A Lion in Winter.
Katherine Ailsa Hubbard * (Bobbi Michele)
Having grown up in the audience, wings, and eventually, the stage of the beautiful Ivoryton Playhouse, Kate is elated to be returning home. Past credits here include Shelby (Steel Magnolias) and Billie Dawn (Born Yesterday, part of Ivoryton’s Centennial Celebration). Other favorite credits include Kattrin (Mother Courage), Helena (Midsummer Night’s Dream), Polly Garter (Under Milk Wood), the TV show Monsters Inside Me (Animal Planet), and the film Idiot Kings (Sweet Italian Mamma Prod.)
Bonnie Black * (Jeanette Fisher). Bonnie Black is delighted to be making her debut at Ivoryton Playhouse. Her Off-Broadway and NYC credits include HB Playwrights Foundation Theatre, the musical The Fan Tan King (NY International Fringe Festival), Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, The Comedy of Errors (Equity Library Theatre), and The Usher’s Ball (CAP 21). Other theatre work: residency with Adrian Hall’s Trinity Square Repertory Company and company memberships with the Alley Theatre and Great Lakes Theatre Festival. Guest artist appearances with regional and stock theatres throughout the country include Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound with Karen Ziemba at The Old Globe; the one-woman show When Something Wonderful Ends at Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; and Sylvia with Bruce Connelly at Centennial Theatre Festival. Television: Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, several soap operas, recurring as Cathy Wilson on Loving and Life Among the Lowly and The Grimke Sisters for PBS.
Directed by: Maggie McGlone Jennings
Stage Manager: T. Rick Jones *
Set Design: Rachel Reynolds
Lighting Design: Marcus Abbott
Costume Design: LisaMarie Harry
Hair Designer: Joel Silvestro
* member of Actors Equity
Friday, June 8: Join us for an opening night reception with the cast after the performance. Light refreshments will be served under the tent. This performance is a benefit for the Essex Community Fund.
Wednesday, June 13: from 6:30pm before 7:30pm performance
“Red Hot Date Night”
Bring your partner, date, or come as a single and enjoy a casual, pre-theatre gathering before the show. Wine, soft drinks and snacks will be served. Relax and enjoy music and friends on the patio. Maybe meet someone new! A $5 donation is suggested. Red Hot Summer events are sponsored by Guilford Savings Bank.
PRESS RELEASE – May 17, 2012
Red Hot Summer At The Ivoryton Playhouse Opens with Neil Simon’s The Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Beverley Taylor as Elaine and R. Bruce Connelly as Barney Cashman
Ivoryton: Pity the good guy. You know the one — the man who fell in love with his high school sweetheart and knew no other girl before he married. Now that a couple of decades have passed and he’s still with his wife, he’s convinced he’s missed a great deal.
Neil Simon wrote one of his best plays about this husband. The Last of the Red Hot Lovers which opens in Ivoryton on June 6th and runs through June 24th, introduces us to Barney Cashman, a 47-year-old restaurateur, who decides he needs to take a break from his 23-year-old marriage. On three different afternoons, he brings women to his mother’s apartment while she’s at the hospital volunteering. Behind plentiful laughs is a tender portrayal of a decent fellow who just can’t succeed in sinning.
Kate Hubbard plays Bobbi in Last of the Red Hot Lovers running until Sunday, June 24
R. Bruce Connelly* returns to Ivoryton to play the hopelessly faithful Barney Cashman. Bruce has performed at the Playhouse many times, most recently in the critically acclaimed production, The Producers. Bruce will be joined by Playhouse veteran Beverley Taylor, Kate Hubbard* and Bonnie Black*
Longtime wives who attend The Last of the Red Hot Lovers are urged to bring their longtime husbands. Each guy may well see how smart he’s been to not humiliate himself the way Barney does!
Directed by Maggie McGlone Jennings, the set design is by Rachel Reynolds, lighting design by Marcus Abbott, and costumes by LisaMarie Harry.
Bonnie Black plays Jeanette Fisher, the wife of Barney Cashman's best friend, pictured here with Bruce Connelly
The Last of the Red Hot Lovers opens on June 6th and runs through June 24th for 3 weeks. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Members of the press are welcome at any performance. Please call ahead for tickets.
*member of Actors Equity
