Season 1
2002 - 2003
Charlie's Aunt
by Brandon Thomas
September 26 - October 20, 2002
Charlie’s Aunt, by Brandon Thomas is a classic farce of mistaken identity. Two college gentlemen invite two young ladies to lunch to meet Charley's aunt and to propose marriage. When the aunt doesn't show, they must have a chaperone, so they draft a fellow classmate to impersonate the aunt. Of course when the real aunt shows up all manner of craziness ensues. Throw in two older gentlemen, father of one of the boys and the guardian of the two girls, who both fancy the "aunt," and you have the makings of a "rollicking" good farce.
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Cast:
Timothy Bate
Susan Beem
Kelly Caufield
Ian Gleason
Mariah Machado
Bob McCormack
Lee K. Paige
Seth Rigoletti
William Sandstead
Stephen Underwood
Director: Brian P. Allen
Set Design: Janet Montgomery
Set Construction: Stephen Underwood, Craig Robinson, Steve Bouchard
Lighting Design: Eric Hager
Associate Lighting Designer: Nicole Sirois
Costumes: Lin White
Production Associate: Joan McMahon
Stage Manager: Steve Bouchard* Member Actors' Equity Association
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“…the name understates its sterling qualities. Good Theater isn’t good. It’s great. Good Theater equals good news for southern Maine stage aficionados…A raucously funny production of Charley’s Aunt is the first offering of the first full season of Good Theater, Portland’s newest professional (non-Equity) thespian troupe…Charley’s Aunt is simply superb in every detail, from casting to costuming. It’s impossible to pick out anyone from the 10-member cast for extra praise because they’re all so evenly matched and function like a smoothly oiled machine.” Scott Andrews, The Forecaster
“One hundred and ten years after he wrote it, Brandon Thomas’ farce, Charley’s Aunt is still laugh-out-loud funny. And the sparkling gem crafted by Good Theater is the perfect production to best enjoy it. If this season opener is an example of the quality we can expect from Good Theater, then theater audiences now have another theater on par with the two Equity houses in the state…Allen’s direction is crisp and detailed; the cast is delightfully comic with lots of delicious stage business; and the technical and design aspects are top notch.” Mary Snell, Portland Press Herald
Over the River and
Through the Woods
by Joe DiPietro
November 14 - December 1, 2002
Over the River and Through the Woods, by Joe DiPietro is the show that launched Good Theater. Nick, a young executive, arrives to tell his two sets of grandparents that he has been given a promotion at work - the only problem is he must move to Seattle. The four grandparents create a perfect plan to get him to stay; however, things don't quite work out as everyone had hoped. Whether you are Italian, Irish, Jewish or just part of a crazy family, you will love Over the River and Through the Woods.
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Cast:
Cathy Counts
Paul Drinan
Jeanne Handy
Chris Horton
Stephen Underwood
Tootie Van Reenan
Directed by Brian P. Allen
Set Design: Janet Montgomery
Lighting Design: Tom Vail
Set Construction :Craig Robinson, Steve Underwood
Stage Manager: Karen Dunton* Member Actors' Equity Association
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"There's a new theater company in town, and they launched their inaugural effort…at the St Lawrence Arts Center. It's an impressive maiden voyage"
"Over the River and Through the Woods is a comedy that alternates between raucous belly laughs and poignant drama." Scott Andrews, The Forecaster"Director Brian Allen has assembled a strong cast of the best local acting talent and guided them with a sensitive hand. This ensemble is absolutely terrific on stage. The actors' timing is on the mark and they interact as comfortably as if they really were in their own living room." Mary Snell, Portland Press Herald
“One hundred and ten years after he wrote it, Brandon Thomas’ farce, Charley’s Aunt is still laugh-out-loud funny. And the sparkling gem crafted by Good Theater is the perfect production to best enjoy it. If this season opener is an example of the quality we can expect from Good Theater, then theater audiences now have another theater on par with the two Equity houses in the state…Allen’s direction is crisp and detailed; the cast is delightfully comic with lots of delicious stage business; and the technical and design aspects are top notch.” Mary Snell, Portland Press Herald
Little Me
book by Neil Simon
music by Cy Coleman
lyrics by Carolyn
March 13 - April 6, 2003
by Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, tells the story of Belle Poitrine, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and her quest for wealth, culture and social position. This wildly comic musical comedy was written as a vehicle for Sid Caesar who played all seven men in Belle's life. Stephen Underwood will play the Caesar role while Lynne McGhee and Kelly Caufield are featured as older and younger Belle. This production is directed by Brian P. Allen with musical direction by Beth Barefoot-Jones. It's the biggest little show you'll ever see.
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Cast:
Stephen Underwood
Lynne McGhee
Kelly Caufield
Glenn Anderson
Timothy Bate
Rodney Mondor
William Sandstead
Betsy Dunphy
Kate Dunphy
Lori Johnson
Directed by Brian P. Allen
Musical Direction: Beth Barefoot-Jones
Production Pianist: Beth Barefoot-Jones
Set Design: Janet Montgomery
Set Construction: Craig Robinson, Steve Underwood
Lighting Design: Jamie Grant
Stage Mangers: Joanna Chantal, Josh Stamell* Member Actors' Equity Association
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“Brian Allen, Beth Barefoot-Jones and a talented cast bring Little Me to us with verve and style. It’s also a professional production at bargain prices. Belle reminisces (as an army of male attendants keeps her in trim), her younger self relives the events- and the men- who shared her spotlight. Most of them are played by the same actor – here, Steve Underwood – which was geared to the talents of Sid Caesar in 1962 and, most recently, Martin Short. Those two comics could and did manufacture wildly different characters in a nanosecond. Underwood is more of a team player and technician, less of a ham. Kelly Caufield has Broadway pipes and an appealing vitality as the kewpie-doll younger Belle. Lynne McGhee, as always, is a dynamo, has a lot of fun with this role; she’s all cheekbones and wide eyes. The hardest-working heroes of this show are the ensemble members, topnotch all. Do not miss the chance to see them at work.” Cathy Nelson Price, Portland Press Herald
“Underwood is ridiculously funny in all of his roles… His physical comedy is something to behold, and his facial expressions add to the carnival atmosphere. The choreography and dancing add even more, and the set is hilariously colorful, with easily identified elements to define changing locations.” Jeff Inglis, Portland Phoenix
“…the show stealer is Good Theater co-founder Steve Underwood playing multiple male characters…who gets cascades of laughs in the multiple roles.” Scott Andrews, The Forecaster
Shirley Valentine
by Willy Russell
May 8 - June 1, 2003
Shirley Valentine, by Willy Russell and starring Lee K. Paige as Shirley will close the first season of Good Theater. Shirley is a middle-aged housewife whose life is in a rut. Her life changes forever during a two-week trip to Greece. Filled with wry humor and romance. Come join Shirley as she falls in love - with herself. Shirley Valentine, starring Lee K. Paige and directed by Brian P. Allen, was named one of the ten best productions of the year by the Portland Press Herald in 1993.
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Shirley: Lee K. Paige
Directed by Brian P. Allen
Set Design: Janet Montgomery
Lighting Design: Jamie Grant
Set Construction: Craig Robinson, Steve Underwood
Stage Manager: Karen Dunton
Assistant Stage Manager: Morgan Shepard
Makeup: Louise Hill* Member Actors' Equity Association
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“Lee K. Paige performed this one-woman show 10 years ago, directed by Brian Allen. The two have teamed up again in this Good Theater production – with great result. Paige truly becomes Shirley and all the other people that Shirley talks about. Paige captures the essence of an uptight neighbor, her snotty daughter, her lump of a husband. But it is as Shirley that we really see Paige’s full range. It’s her face. It pulls you in completely. Through her face she shows the transformation of Shirley – expressing sweet, doughty warmth in the kitchen, to a glowing, impish, voluptuousness on the beach in Greece. If you haven’t been to a show yet, you’re missing some of the best local theater – and it’s offered at an affordable price.” - Mary Snell, Portland Press Herald
"The power of Shirley Valentine is that playwright Willy Russell has portrayed an Everywoman, ripe for Paige's richly comic and sensitive interpretation."
"Leaving the theater after Lee K Paige's virtuoso performance of Shirley Valentine, I found it hard to believe I'd just seen a one-woman show." - Jane Lamb, Portland Press Herald"Shirley Valentine is a gem"
”[Paige] This is a consummate performance, well directed by Brian Allen."
"Shirley Valentine…ranks as strong professional fare." - William Steele, Portland Press Herald
The Big Picture
by Stephen Underwood
June 4 & 5, 2003
More than a dozen characters tackle big questions and wrestle with reality in this fast paced solo show with music… Quantum Mechanics provide roadside service, Murphy (The Law guy) speaks up, Pollyanna provides perspective, and a guy on a stage wonders aloud… If you saw Steve’s multi-character work in “Little Me,” you know he’s a versatile performer who’s always up for a laugh…
Broadway at the St. Lawrence
Fundraiser Concert
June 7 & 8, 2003
Broadway stars and local favorites, will lend their amazing voices to some of Broadways greatest songs.
SIX Broadway Stars!
Teri Hansen: Show Boat, The Boys From Syracuse
Mark McGrath: The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Three Musketeers, Little Me
Raymond Jaramillo McLeod: Dance of the Vampires, Jekyll & Hyde, Evita
George Merritt: Jekyll & Hyde, Porgy & Bess, Big River, Ain't Misbehavin'
Kip Wilborn: The Phantom of the Opera, Street Scene
Lynne Wintersteller: Some Enchanted Evening, Closer Than Ever, Nunsense
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Cast:
Teri Hansen - Show Boat, The Boys From Syracuse
Mark McGrath - The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Three Musketeers, Little Me
Raymond Jaramillo McLeod - Dance of the Vampires, Jekyll & Hyde, Evita
George Merritt - Jekyll & Hyde, Porgy & Bess, Big River, Ain't Misbehavin'
Kip Wilborn - The Phantom of the Opera, Street Scene
Lynne Wintersteller - Some Enchanted Evening, Closer Than Ever, Nunsense
FOUR Good Theater Favorites:
Kelly Caufield Jennifer McLeod, Bethann Renaud, Stephen UnderwoodConceived & Directed by Brian P. Allen
Musical Director: Beth Barefoot-Jones -
Audience real winner at 'Broadway' Benefit
Portland Press Herald, June 9, 2003
By Steve FeeneyA wealth of talent graced the stage of the St. Lawrence Arts Center on Saturday night in a benefit for the center and the nonprofit Good Theater Company that performs there.
Six dynamic Broadway stars were joined by four local singers in a program of solo, duo, and group numbers predominantly from the Great White Way but also including a bit of opera and spiritual music.
Anchoring the proceedings, both by the power of their voices and by their sheer physical size, were two baritones who later this year will be working with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. George Merritt and Raymond Jaramillo McLeod commanded attention several tunes taken from musicals in which they starred. Merritt brought humor to the rhythmic complexity of "A Handful of Keys" from "Ain't Misbehavin'," accompanied by Beth Barefoot-Jones on the piano, and later joined McLeod for a spirited version of "Your Feet's Too Big" from the same play. Merritt also offered a striking take on "Wheels of a Dream" from "Ragtime," a piece that seemed made for his talents.
McLeod created real drama with a melancholy tune from "Shenandoah" and shook the rafters of the high ceilinged former church hall with an Italian aria. He and show host Brian P. Allen exchanged quips and generally personalized the performance in a way that garnered a warm response from the capacity $100-a-seat crowd.
Though Allen did a great job as master of ceremonies, it still would have been nice to have a basic printed program for the jam-packed show.
Lynne Wintersteller mounted a stool for a funny, poignant version of "I'm Not Complaining" from "Closer Than Ever," a show she starred in off-Broadway. Her intimate style artfully dramatized the song's clever take on relationships. Wintersteller later joined with husband Mark McGrath for a Stephen Sondheim tune that also touched on the difficulties couples face.
Teri Hansen and Kip Wilborn, another wife-and-husband team, reprised a Bocelli/Brightman hit. Hansen, in a striking blue sequined gown, also sang a compelling version of "Bill" from "Showboat."
Among the locals, Bethann Renaud took the audience on a familiar but always welcome journey "Over the Rainbow" while Kelly Caufield sang about a very moving little "Meadowlark." Steve Underwood sat at the piano for an original tune in a flowing personal style and Jennifer McLeod pulled out all the stops for a performance of a Puccini aria that merited the lengthy applause it received. All came on stage for a rousing close highlighted by a heartfelt version of "Amazing Grace."
The good cause of this benefit drew exceptional professional artists to the stage and they gave it their all in an inspired evening of vocal music.
A once in a life-time concert event!
Proceeds to benefit the St. Lawrence Arts & Community Center & Good Theater
Six Broadway stars will lend their amazing voices to some of Broadways greatest songs to raise money for these two organizations.