Church Hill Theatre is offering two-for-one tickets for opening night of Visit to a Small Planet, Friday, April 1st – no fooling! This quirky comedy is bitingly funny, and touches on everything from aliens to war, to sex and the media—all with a lighthearted 1950’s tone. Gore Vidal, best known for historical novels and waspish literary criticism, shows a more hilarious side in this mid-20th century classic. CHT’s full-time Administrative Assistant Liz Clarke directs Visit, which will run weekends from April 1st through April 17th.
ohn Norton, Debra Ebersole, Howard Mesick, Shannon Whitaker, Justin Butler. The mischievous alien Kreton demonstrates his enthusiasm for explosions, while the earthlings observe, perplexed.
Kreton, a tourist from another galaxy (played by Jerry Lewis in the film version), arrives in Manassas to observe the American Civil War but arrives a century too late in the Spelding family’s back yard! At first disappointed, he eventually decides to create his own far more exciting thermonuclear war. “Isn’t hydrogen fun?” he gurgles. Hilarity ensues as his hosts and their friends muster their human ingenuity to outwit this alien with exceptional super powers.
Liz Clarke, who recently directed Picasso at the Lapin Agile for the Gunston School and Five Women Wearing the Same Dress for CHT, has assembled a strong cast and production team for the Church Hill production. Howard Mesick, who serves as actor, director, and playwright to many local theatre groups, plays the mischievous alien Kreton. Pat Martin, last seen in CHT’s production of Good People, takes the role of General Tom Powers. Kreton’s hosts are members of the good-natured Spelding family. Media pundit Roger Spelding, played by Tred Avon Players regular John Norton, his wife Reba—CHT veteran Debra Ebersole, and their lovely daughter Ellen, depicted by UNH Theatre Arts grad Shannon Whitaker, welcome Kreton into the 1950s with hospitality, despite his spaceship crash-landing in Mrs. Spelding’s rose garden. CHT first-timer Justin Butler plays Ellen’s boyfriend Conrad Mayberry. John Haas plays a military aide, Megan Boyle and Bob McGrory are TV technicians and Maya McGrory is the mysterious Delton 4. The action takes place in a suburban Virginia neighborhood in 1958. The cast is filled with local talent of all ages, making for a laugh-out-loud production!
Producer Bonnie Hill, who most recently directed CHT’s Wait Until Dark, and Michelle Christopher—who is in her 9th CHT production in three years—head Clarke’s skilled production team. Talbot County resident Les Lentz provides the eerie sound effects, while lighting wizard Nic Carter illuminates the stage for Visit. Another stunning set created by Carmen Grasso and Brian Draper, this time with help from Towson student Sam Martin, and decorated by props mistress Cynthia Fields. Liz Clarke and Debra Ebersole team up to clothe the actors beautifully. Katie Sardo, Rachel Pettit, and Tim Daly will be running the sound and light boards for the performances. Steve Atkinson has provided his photography skills for publicity shots and more.
Visit to a Small Planet runs from April 1 – 17, with performances at 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for members, and $10 for students, with special prices for groups of fifteen or more. Church Hill Theatre offers a “two-for-one” special on opening night, Friday April 1st for those who phone in advance. CHT also has attractive membership deals and FlexTicket rates for its entire 2016 season. For more information on the season, or to make reservations call the CHT office at 410-556-6003 or visit CHT online at www.churchhilltheatre.org.
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