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'The Cemetery Club' is full of laughs

Although a graveyard seems an unlikely place for laughs, Elgin Theatre Company's production of "The Cemetery Club" delivers humor as well as drama, according to director Linda Collins.

"It is a comedy and a drama," she said. "It will make you laugh hysterically and cry."

The show opens at 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, at Elgin's Kimball Street Theater and runs through Sunday, June 26. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.

"The humor is universal and we've had a few test audiences watch us rehearse and we've had everyone from 20-70 and it is so well written and so humorous," Collins, of Elk Grove Village, said. "It's just hilarious and I think people will crack up at the brilliant writing."

The play, written by Ivan Menchell and debuted in New York in 1990, is about three Jewish women in New York City.

"The play is about women in their late 50s early 60s who all lost their husbands and how each one of them is dealing with the loss," said Collins.

Another character, Sam, played by Harry Davis of Aurora, comes across the women and interacts with them throughout.

"My character is Sam who's a New York, Jewish butcher who, some years back, lost his wife," said Davis. "It happens, that when he visits his wife at the cemetery, he comes across these three ladies who are also visiting at the cemetery because three of their husbands have died."

One of the challenges for the actors is Collins's desire that they speak in a New York accent.

"It's crucial that these actors embrace the characters' Jewish heritage because the writer includes many of their traditions of mourning and grieving," she said. "It's definitely culturally based and I felt very strongly, as a director, that we had to embrace and portray that."

For Davis, learning a New York accent is a new experience. The 72-year-old actor began acting as an empty nester after taking acting lessons at Second City in Chicago.

"My age was so unusual that the teacher had to get scripts that involve an older man because most of my fellow actors were in their 20s and early 30s. So I took it on later in life," he said.

It's taken some time and dedication for Davis to learn the distinct way of speaking, which he mostly gleaned from online lessons.

"I'm lucky I'm retired so I can give up my time," he said. "My wife is wonderfully supportive and understanding, much like our director Linda Collins who is very supportive and, at the same time, demands the best of us."

For Jil Robinson of Hoffman Estates, perfecting the accent came from a more organic place.

"I talk to a lot of people from New York and I've known some people from there, so I've picked it up from hearing people," she said.

Robinson plays Ida, the love interest of Sam in the play.

"A relationship is developed between him and one of the girls and is sabotaged by two others, because they misread my intentions," said Davis.

"Ida lost her husband two years ago and she's a very sweet, nice person, but she does have a little spunk to her," Robinson said. "She's kind of the peacemaker of the group."

"I like the fact that she's the one moving on," Robinson continued. "She wants to find love again, she ends up going out with this gentleman, Sam, who they all know. She wants to experience things and try new things."

Although the play revolves mature characters, people of all ages will find something to enjoy about the production, Robinson believes.

"There is a lot of funny repartee between the women, which I think anyone would find funny. The women have a funny quality to them that transcends generation. There's something for everyone."

"It's one of the most beautifully written shows I've been in," Davis added. "It's a beautiful balance between humor and poignant love. It's a powerfully touching and funny play."

Other cast members include Debbie Fowler of Bartlett, Carolyn Pizzato of Palatine, and Lynsay Hanratty of St. Charles.

For ticket reservations, call (847) 741-0532 or email tickets@inil.com. Visit elgin-theatre.org/.

If you go

What: Elgin Theatre Company's production of "The Cemetery Club," a comedy by Ivan Menchell

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26.

For the deaf: Andrew Ross will interpret the show in American Sign Language at the Sunday, June 19, presentation.

Where: Kimball Street Theater, at the northeast corner of Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue in downtown Elgin.

Tickets: $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and youths. Call (847) 741-0532 or email tickets@inil.com.

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