Community Players of Naperville to present 'Paradise'

"Paradise" may not be devoid of devils, as a play presented by Community Players of Naperville shows. Set in a nursing home and rehab center called Paradise, the drama revolves around several residents who deal with the "devils" in their lives and attempt to cope with their situation and their friends.

In the nursing home, a focus group of two men and two women is an example of bad, blocked and too blunt communication. Thelma is an unhappy, older woman who never hesitates to make a caustic remark. Pearline is a stroke victim with limited verbal capacity, although she processes everything.

Larry, a sweet older man, cannot grasp meaning, but understands feelings. And Muncie, a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder, finds it difficult to step out of his comfort zone.

Over the course of six months, friendships develop and everyone becomes a little less bedeviled by their challenges. The play by Thomas Rieser is not about aging, PTSD or strokes. Instead, it is about friendships and understanding.

Performances begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 10 to 25, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 12 and 19, at Community United Methodist Church, 20 N. Center St., Naperville.

Tickets are $15. Make reservations online at communityplayersnaperville.com/tickets/ or by calling (630) 340-4735.