Three couples, two dinner parties, one adulterous affair. presents “How the Other Half Loves” a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn that juggles time and space to create a whirlwind of chaos, confusion and laughter. Veteran Director, Janet Lynn Spahr, brings this hilarious comedy to life for a four-week run at Freehold’s award-winning dessert theater this February.
In the madcap world of “How the Other Half Loves”, Bob Phillips is having an affair with Fiona Foster. When it looks like Bob’s wife and Fiona’s husband are about to put two and two together, the guilty lovers use a third, unsuspecting newlywed couple as their alibi. The ensuing action leads to a string of misunderstandings with fast-paced nearly farcical consequences.
Director Spahr, of Brick Township, was drawn to the piece from her earliest recollection.
“Ayckbourn loves to experiment with the conventions of theatre, as he does in this play where two dinner parties occur simultaneously onstage. In his later, darker, plays he takes that curiosity in a more inward direction. I enjoy his earlier works particularly 'How the Other Half Loves' as it provides a bounty of contagious laughter for all."
The production is full of Center Playhouse favorites and NJ Community Theatre regulars including: Jeff Caplan (Manchester), Yvette Cataneo (Freehold),Danielle Gordon (Shrewsbury), Anthony Greco (Ocean), Lorin Ottone (Freehold),and Princeton newcomer Rupert Hinton.
"How the Other Half Loves” opens on Feb. 3, and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Feb. 26 (no performance on Saturday, Feb. 25) at Center Playhouse, located at 35 South Street in Freehold. Tickets are on sale for $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students; admission includes complimentary gourmet desserts and beverages. Group rates and season subscriptions are also available. For ticket reservations please call (732) 462-9093 or visit us on the web at www.CenterPlayers.org.
