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Laugh along with ‘Laughing Stock’ at Geneva High School

Geneva High School presents sweet, funny look behind the curtain in ‘Laughing Stock’

Geneva High School will present an affectionate — and funny — love letter to the world of theater this weekend, when it presents “Laughing Stock.”

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11.

The play is based on Charles Morey’s own decades of experiences with life on the boards. The setting is a New England summer theater, The Playhouse, where the season’s schedule includes “Dracula,” “Hamlet” and “Charley’s Aunt.”

But with not enough time and inadequate resources, “the well-intentioned company soon finds itself overmatched, and comic mayhem ensues,” Morey wrote about the play.

The play is a sometimes sentimental look at the theatrical world, Morey said. “Everyone in the theater has his or her own ‘Playhouse,’ the place where there was never enough of anything: time, staff, money, and sometimes simply not enough talent or skill; where sometimes the doors fell off their hinges, the sound cues ran backward, and the character man forgot his lines; but where you gave yourself over wholly to the making of plays, to telling stories in the dark on a summer night and along the way made a little family as well for a few months.”

The cast has been rehearsing for several weeks under the direction of Carrie Schafer of Batavia, who also directed the 2011 fall play, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”

Nick Bianchina is Gordon Page, the overly ambition artistic director. Bridget Foley is the penny-pinching producing executive administrative director, Corey Conlin and Becca Grischow is the stage manager, Sarah McKay. Elise Watson portrays sweet and eccentric Daisy, a longtime company member; and Cole Downey is the self-absorbed leading man, Tyler Taylor.

Jeff Hersheway is the talented newcomer, Jack, while Mary Kate Stanfa is Mary, the new ingénue. Sydney Parado plays guest director Susanna, Cameron Graber portrays the forgetful Richfield Hawksey, while Rian Kormos plays jaded actor Vernon, and Meredith Dillon plays the overextended set, costume and lighting designer, Hedy.

Marc Belon, Margot Downey, Angelo Gulfuso, Megan Grant, Joey McCall, Anika Nims, Zane Shaw, Sara Temple and Katie Willadsen round out the cast. Robbie Brouilette is the GHS stage manager.

“‘Laughing Stock’ is a look at summer stock theater and all the characters that come with it,” Schafer said. “Problems arise when ‘The Playhouse’ tries to put on three shows in rotation, “Dracula,” “Charley’s Aunt” and “Hamlet.” Come see a behind-the-scenes look at how actors cope when everything that can go wrong … goes wrong.

“We are blessed with a great cast, with wonderful comic timing,” Schafer said.

Tickets are $5, $3 for students at the door. Geneva High School is at 416 McKinley Ave., Geneva. For more information, see geneva304.org or call (630) 463-3800.

If you go

What: Geneva High School production of “Laughing Stock”

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9-10; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11

Where: Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave., Geneva

Tickets: $5, $3 students, available at the door

Details: (630) 463-3800; <a href="https://www.geneva304.org/GHS/index.htm">geneva304.org</a>

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