As the lights go up, Bryan Johnson and Katie Knoblich pop up at the head of a bed, all in swoons.
Not all that great, says Knoblich of the just concluded encounter. From corner stage Andrew Oatman, playing a “love” attorney in this scene of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Don’t Change,” starts predictable dialogue given his profession.
A few minutes later he delivers one of the best lines of the musical comedy, which Iola Community Theatre will stage Friday and Saturday nights and March 16, 17 and 18 at its Warehouse Theatre, 203 S. Jefferson Ave.
“If your partner doesn’t take you to heaven, we’ll take them to court,” Oatman states with conviction.
The scene is one of 19 in the ICT production that almost didn’t come off, but will albeit a couple of weeks later than anticipated. After the show was cast, the two female leads had to withdraw because of a family death and a personal commitment.
“I wasn’t sure we were going to get it done for a little while,” said Richard Spencer, veteran ICT veteran.
The pieces fell together.
Greta Adams, USD 257 vocal instructor, had wanted to audition, but her schedule for February wouldn’t permit. Moving the show back freed her to join in. Knoblich, a former student of Adams’, jumped at the opportunity to play the second female lead.
Johnson and Oatman were on board from the start.
“We’ll have everything in place by (Friday) for the opening performance, said Spencer.
Those who attend any of the five shows will find witty comedy, sometimes at belly-laugh levels, and — as a warning —
occasional adult situations that might be a little racy for the young.
The play’s script comes in two versions. Spencer, with family audiences a likelihood, chose the milder one.
The four actors portray a variety of characters and, with constant costume changes, scenes don’t come off with finger-snap regularity. But, a little down time is a small price to pay for the quality entertainment that comes when any of the four is on stage.
All have rich voices. Each has ample opportunities to share.
Occasional dramatic interludes also show all four actors have considerable talents in that discipline.
Special note needs to be made of Maggie Terhune’s expertise with lighting for the show, a phase of stagecraft often overlooked and particularly important to the flow of this show.
THE PLAY is a series of vignettes that explore love and relationships.
