Interplayers Fills Season With Lesser-Known Works
The Interplayers Ensemble, Spokane’s resident professional theater, has announced a season filled with titles that, frankly, most of us probably won’t recognize.
However, experience has proven that the unknown plays often turn out to be the most rewarding. This season underscores the continuing commitment of Interplayers to present new, underexposed work.
Another observation about this season: It contains not a single A.R. Gurney or Alan Ayckbourne play. This is the first Interplayers season in the past five seasons not to have one or both.
You might also note another change from previous years. Opening nights this season will be on Saturdays. This allows the Friday before opening to be a reduced-price preview, which serves two purposes: It gives audiences a budget option, and it allows the performers a chance to gauge audience reaction before the official opening.
Here’s the season:
“Camping With Henry and Tom” by Mark St. Germain - A comic off-Broadway hit based on the true story of a camping trip that Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and President Warren G. Harding took. Sept. 20-Oct. 12.
“The Triumph of Love” by Marivaux - A classic French comedy about love’s cruelties and blessings, written in the first half of the 18th century. Oct. 25-Nov. 16.
“The Ladies of the Camellias” by Lillian Garrett-Groag - A new comedy, first produced at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, about Eleonor Duse and Sarah Bernhardt, the two greatest actresses of their time, who are taken hostage by an anarchist. Nov. 29-Dec. 21.
“Scotland Road” by Jeffrey Hatcher - A new Gothic thriller about a woman rescued on an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The time is the late 20th century, but when rescued she says only one word: “Titanic.” Jan. 31-Feb. 22.
“Indiscretions” by Jean Cocteau - A new version of 1938’s banned “Les Parents Terribles,” about an eccentric, self-devouring family. This new translation by Jeremy Sams was a recent Broadway smash. March 7-29.
“The Rainmaker” by N. Richard Nash - The 1954 American classic about a con man who comes to a small farm town and opens hearts as well as clouds. It was later made into the musical “110 in the Shade.” May 16-June 7.
In addition, an April slot is being left open for a play to be selected later. For a season brochure and season ticket information, call 455-PLAY.
The Michael Johnson story
Spokane author Jess Walter was in Belgium last week to collaborate with Olympic star Michael Johnson on Johnson’s upcoming inspirational book. The book is due for a Christmastime release.
Walter also co-wrote the Christopher Darden best seller, “In Contempt.”
Fire victim’s benefit
KNFR-FM (The Frog) is sponsoring a benefit for West Plains wildfire victims today at 2 p.m. at Chili D’s, S. 152 Browne. Local country bands are donating their talents.
This is a family event for all ages, and donations will be accepted.
Unlikely opera stars
The Uptown Opera has roped some unlikely names into appearing in its upcoming “La Boheme,” Sept. 6-14 at The Met.
For the non-singing role of a waiter, they have lined up a different celebrity performer for each night, including: David Broom, Spokane Symphony president; Stacey Cowles, Spokesman-Review publisher; Frank Knott, Ott-Knott Inc. president; Fabio Mechetti, Spokane Symphony music director; Bill Robinson, Whitworth College president; and Paul Sandifur, Metropolitan Mortgage president and chief executive officer.
They’ll be on stage only two minutes, but I’m sure they will emote in a manner to rival Al Pacino.
Idaho Arbitrons
If you take the most recent radio Arbitron ratings and look only at Kootenai County listeners, you’ll find the rankings far different from the overall Spokane metro rankings (which include Kootenai County).
Not surprisingly, two Coeur d’Alene-based stations end up in the top three: KCDA-FM (“Real Country,” 103.1) at No. 1 and KHTQ-FM (contemporary hits, 94.5) at No. 3. (KCDA-FM’s studio is in Spokane, but it is licensed out of Coeur d’Alene and its transmitter is near Post Falls).
KXLY-FM (99.9) out of Spokane sneaks in at No. 2 with its soft hits format. Don’t ask me to explain that.
, DataTimes