Karen (Laura Jane Young, center) has her doubts about the relationship between Sam (Will Springhorn Jr.) and Jean (Jessie Kirkwood). Photo by Mark Kitaoka
Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory is launching its 85th season with a Neil Simon comedy, “Plaza Suite.”
Set in the famed Plaza Hotel in New York City in late
1968 and early 1969, its three acts spotlight three different couples who stay
there. The couples are played by the same two actors, Will Springhorn Jr. and
Laura Jane Young.
In Act1, the couple is staying there while their
suburban house is being painted. As it opens, the wife, Karen, is waiting for
her husband, Sam, so that they can celebrate their 40-something anniversary.
When Sam arrives, he’s busy with business reports and
tries to ignore her. He’s soon joined by his secretary, Jean (Jessie Kirkwood),
supposedly to review those reports before they go back to the office.
Karen intuits that Sam and Jean are having an affair.
It’s not a happy ending.
In Act 2, a successful Hollywood movie producer,
Jessie, connects with his high school girlfriend, Muriel. She’s married with
children, while he has had three unsuccessful marriages.
He has an idealized view of her and tries to seduce
her. She resists at first, but eventually gives in.
In Act 3, Roy and Norma are all set for their
daughter’s marriage, but Mimsey (Kirkwood) has locked herself in the bathroom
and refuses to come out. When they finally learn why she’s so afraid of
marriage, they’re forced to look at their own relationship.
Completing the cast are Will Livingston (on opening
night) as a bellhop and the groom-to-be and Mauricio Suarez as a room service
waiter.
As directed by Marissa Keltie and aided by costume designer
Lisa Claybaugh, Springhorn and Young successfully navigate the challenges of their
characters.
However, Simon tends to make the male lead domineering
and the female lead dithering. Hence there’s an underlying sameness to them,
especially the two husbands.
Nevertheless, there are lots of laughs as well as
insights into the perils of coupledom.
Production values are high with lighting by Pamila
Gray, set by Eric Olson and sound by Jeff Mockus.
The program has interesting information about the
history of Hillbarn as well the Plaza Hotel. For example, the hotel was bought
by Donald Trump in 1988. He installed his then-wife, Ivana, as president and
manager. They made renovations and redecorated before going through a nasty
divorce and losing the hotel to foreclosure in 1995.
Running about two and a half hours with two
intermissions, “Plaza Suite” will continue through Sept. 14 in Hillbarn
Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.
For tickets and information, call (650) 349-6411 or
visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.
