Covering upcoming plays, performers, and venues
Twelfth Night
Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold; November 8th through 17th; Aacc.edu
Set in the fictional kingdom of Illyria, this William Shakespeare play follows the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola disguises herself as a young man, Cesario, and enters the service of Duke Orsino. As Cesario, Viola becomes the intermediary in Orsino’s pursuit of the countess Olivia, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements. The subplot involves the antics of Olivia’s steward, Malvolio, who becomes the unwitting victim of a prank orchestrated by Olivia’s household. This production is directed by Madeline Austin.
Same Time, Next Year
Compass Rose Theatre at Maryland Hall, Annapolis; Through November 17th; Compassrosetheatre.org
One of the most beloved romantic comedies of the century, “Same Time, Next Year,” won a Tony® Award for the captivating performance by Ellen Burstyn. The story follows Doris and George, each married to someone else, as they meet for a secret rendezvous once a year. Over 25 years, their love affair unfolds with hilarious and touching moments, capturing the evolution of manners and morals in a truly unforgettable way.
The Winslow Boy
The Colonial Players, Annapolis; Through November 16th; Thecolonialplayers.org
What begins as a small incident ultimately grows into a “cause celebre” nearly shaking the foundations of the government. The incident is simply that of a youngster in an English government school who is expelled for an alleged theft. As a matter of fact, the youngster was entirely innocent, but practically all the evidence was against him. The boy’s family, in particular his father, proceed to contest the decision of the school and challenge its right, as a government-run institution, to damage the reputation of a boy without sufficient legal safeguards. The issue that began as a private matter involves the right of official agencies to impose their authority on the individuals of any democracy and, as the play moves relentlessly forward, we see, in effect, citizens of a democracy challenging the forces of bureaucracy, and thus keeping alive the issue of the basic rights of the individual.
Guys & Dolls
Community Players of Salisbury; November 1st–3rd; Communityplayersofsalisbury.org
Guys and Dolls is a musical romantic comedy involving the unlikeliest of Manhattan pairings: a high-rolling gambler and a puritanical missionary, a showgirl dreaming of the straight-and-narrow and a crap game manager who is anything but. Add a group of gamblers, dancers, and missionaries along with wonderful songs, and you have Guys and Dolls.
A Hanukkah Carol, or Gelt Trip! The Musical
Round House Theatre, Bethesda; November 20th through December 22nd; Roundhousetheatre.org
Misanthropic millennial influencer Chava Kanipshin’s internet followers are turning into haters. Desperate to regain her popularity, Chava shuns anything and anyone she sees as an obstacle, including her family, friends, and holiday traditions. But on the first night of Hanukkah, Chava is visited by the ghost of deceased social media star Mimi Marley and other spirits who warn her to change her ways—or be cursed forever. The spirits lead Chava on a madcap journey through Hanukkahs past, present, and future to help her reconnect with her spirit of generosity, her Jewish identity, and an appreciation of her real-life supporters.
