Theatre 29 kicks off its 16th Year by presenting “An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde through February 7th, 2015 for a five week run on Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm with Sunday matinees at 2:30 pm on January 18 and February 1, 2015.
The Drawing Room Comedy is co-directed by Butch Pelfrey and Tom Highfill and opened Friday, January 9th, to a full house of appreciative Theater Patrons.
Scandal! Blackmail! Corruption! Full of Wilde’s well-known wit, rapid fire repartee and social commentary, “An Ideal Husband” is a scathing satire of the British aristocracy filled to the brim with temptations, betrayals and secret liaisons. Sir Robert Chiltern, a brilliant politician and perfect gentleman, can do no wrong in the eyes of his charming wife Lady Chiltern. But when the calculating Mrs. Cheveley appears on the scene, Sir Robert’s marriage, reputation, and promising career are put at risk. With his world about to unravel, Sir Robert turns to his lifelong friend Lord Arthur Goring, the most eligible bachelor in town, to extricate him from the web of lies that seeks to undermine both his public and private honor.
Featured in the cast are Leonard Weber, Janet Peercy, Char Childs, Ben Bees,
Lizzie Schmelling, Marv Schmelling, Jasmine Shaffer, Kris Thomas, Cyrus Short, Marcus Highfill, Curtis Mohn, Ken King, Scott Clinkscales, and Earl Childs.
Pelfrey, a Veteran Director for Theatre 29, was assisted by Highfill after an unfortunate injury occurred during a recent vacation. He explained, “Since audition night, I have been walking with a cane or riding in a wheel chair while the cast and crew, especially Tom Highfill, have carried the load. The great thing about community theatre is that someone will always step up to do what needs to be done.”
Pelfrey said trying to capture the nuance and innuendo of a writer like Oscar Wilde has been a challenge, “Without a doubt this is the most difficult play I have done”, he said, adding, “The cast has worked extremely hard to peel back the multiple layers of the characters created by Wilde. They have, without any suggestion from me, met on Sundays and holidays to run lines and develop their characters.”
Pelfrey also praised those who assisted with the spectacular and intricate 1895 period setting, saying, “Tom Highfill, Earl Childs , Ken King, and the rest of the cast have done a fantastic job of taking my stick figure drawings and building the set that I could not.
Many special thanks to Rebecca Havely and Shannon McWilliams for dressing the set.” Multi-Award winning Costume Designer Kathryn Ferguson has costumed the players with spectacular period clothing that matches the setting.
Tickets for “An Ideal Husband” are available now at www.theatre29.org, or by calling 760-361-4151. Tickets are $12.00 Regular, $10.00 Seniors and Military, and $8.00 for Students with ID or children under 12.
Season Tickets for all seven 2015 Main Stage productions are available now at www.theatre29.org, by calling the Box office at 760-361-4151, or going to Theatre 29 prior to performances of “Shakespeare in Hollywood” through December 20, 2014. Season Tickets are $68.00 for General admission, $56.00 for Senior or military, and $46.00 for students with ID or children under 12.
Theatre 29 is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501( c ) 3, Community Theater organization.
