Story of enduring love is set in the Big Apple (From Wharfedale Observer)

Story of enduring love is set in the Big Apple

11:27am Friday 11th May 2012 in Leisure

The latest playhouse production opened in the Wildman Studio on Monday. Set in New York, Chaim’s Love Song by Marvin Chernoff is a charming comedy drama about retired Jewish mailman Chaim Shotsky and his friendship with Kelly Burke, a young teacher from Iowa who has accompanied her husband, an English professor, on a research trip to the Big Apple.

Having met in Jefferson Park in Brooklyn one morning, the two friends enjoy a regular chat and over the course of a few weeks, Chaim tells Kelly his life story.

As his memories come to life on stage we meet his friend Oscar Birnbaum, his wives, his children, a matchmaker, several other characters and the park pigeons. It is a tale of joy and sorrow, tragedy and comedy, but ultimately of humanity and an enduring love.

The production, which runs until Saturday, is directed by Ray Williams and features Stephen Forman as Chaim, Miranda Armitage as Kelly with Malcolm Taylor, Alan Carmichael, Emily Strange, Kay Vann and Ann Bradley in supporting roles.

The next play in the Wildman Studio is a touring production of Playhouse Creatures, by April de Angelis, presented by Blue Aces Theatre Ltd, a touring theatre company run in association with Helmsley Arts Centre.

Set in Restoration England, the play tells the story of the first actresses to tread the boards following the closure by the Puritans of all playhouses. The production comes to Ilkley for one night only on Saturday, May 26, at 7.30pm.

Rehearsals are well underway for the next Wharfeside Theatre production – Tom Stoppard’s comedy/drama The Real Thing, a story of love and infidelity in 1980s theatreland – which co-incidentally opened at the West Yorkshire Playhouse this week.

The play examines love in all its different guises taking in desire, jealousy, enduring love and marital squabbling – all set against a background of Thatcher’s Britain. Directed by Jacquie Howard, the play features Walter Swan, Sarah Potter, Geraldine Woodhouse, Lee Russell, Will Lambert, May Hughes and Jason Evans. It opens on Wednesday, May 30, for a ten-night run.

The next social event is the Fleapit Cinema showing a screening of Made in Dagenham on Sunday, May 20, at 2pm.