The Kirk Players offer fast-paced comedy ‘All In The Timing’
Three monkeys typing away all day, expected to eventually write “Hamlet”; two people meeting for the first time, desperate to finally say the right thing; Leon Trotsky with an ax planted on his head; these hilarious scenes and more are plucked from the brilliant mind of David Ives and brought to life in The Kirk Players’ production of “All In The Timing.”
As the title suggests, each short comedy deals with the recurring theme of time and timing, being in the right place at the right time and making that special connection, often with uproarious results.
It is noteworthy that the author, David Ives, graduated from Northwestern University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English before earning his Master of Fine Arts in playwriting from Yale School of Drama in 1984. Ives was awarded the Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Playwriting Award in1994 for “All In The Timing.”
Kirk Players performed many of these short scenes 22 years ago at the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills, and the comedy is just as side-splitting funny and relevant.
“It’s hard to tell who is having the most fun,” director Jon Leslie Lynn said, “the actors or the directing staff who are watching!”
“The actors in all seven short plays are doing a wonderful job balancing the absurd language while conveying an honest human connection,” assistant director Gretchen Grassl said.
“And the well-timed antics and crazy improvisations ensure it will be an amazing audience-pleaser,” stage manager Jen Tomlin said.
The talented cast includes veteran Kirk Players and guests, including two, Patrick Blake and Shara Wright, who also appeared in the 2004 Cuneo Mansion production. Listed by each act/scene, the cast includes: Luke Rush and Mandy Stebbins (“Sure Thing”); Shara Wright, Marilee C.C. Rusiniak and MK Dreher (“Words Words Words”); Natalie La Voie, Jon Matousek and Patrick Blake (“The Philadelphia”); Randy Margison, Betty Slack and James Torbeck (“Variations on the Death of Trotsky”); Ben Fenton, Mandy Stebbins and Tom Gorham (“Time Flies”); MK Dreher, Mike Lieberman and Lisa Soare (“Arabian Nights”); and Dan Manke, Luke Rush and Jess Motyka (“English Made Simple”).
Rounding out Lynn’s directing staff is assistant stage manager Terri Wiersma. Complementing the production are the skilled tech crew members, costumer Anna Lieberman, props Bev Karns and Barb Selvaggio, sound design Natalie La Voie, with Drew Hemmerich on sound crew, and light design Patrick Blake, with Jeanna Daebiliehn, Tracy Skinner and Mike Stebbins on light crew.
“All In The Timing” is the final mainstage show of the Kirk Players 60th Anniversary season. Founded in 1966 by John W. Lynn, The Kirk Players has provided ongoing contributions to charitable organizations throughout Lake County since its inception, including grants to local middle schools and scholarships to local high schools since 2000.
Kirk Players’ “All In The Timing” will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, with subsequent shows at 2 p.m. Sundays, June 21 and 28; and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, at West Oak Middle School, 26156 N. Acorn Lane, Mundelein. Some humor may be considered “PG-13.”