By Merle Exit
Queens Theatre is noted for introducing new plays to the community, one of which was “Jimmy and Carolyn.”
James Andrew Walsh worked on the script and, a few years later, presented it to Queens Theatre’s Executive Director, Taryn Sacramone who had once worked with him.
“I saw this as an interesting and familiar family drama,” said Sacramone. Readings led to the rehearsals which began on Sept. 5. A dress rehearsal was held on Sept. 7.
Jimmy (Sam Tsoutsouvas) and Carolyn (Lisa Harrow) are a long-time married couple living in Florida. Wanting to celebrate a birthday for their son James (Brad Bradley), they drive up to the Rhode Island beach home shared by James and his life partner Will (Luis Carlos de la Lombana).
Jimmy is a retired auto body repairman who drinks and smokes too much. His homemaker wife, Carolyn, bugs him about it due to Jimmy having had cancer surgery on his gall bladder. There is much story drama among the father, mother and son, some of which is funny, although I would not peg the play as being “hilarious.”
Harrow had a difficult time getting through her dialogue in the first scene. It was the decision of Director Brooke Ciardelli to put her back on book, which in layman’s terms means to carry around and read from the script. There then became a tendency to make up for it with some “overacting.”
Jimmy and Carolyn is being presented downstairs in the studio and off limits for kids due to a lot of colorful language.
Tickets are for general admission. Performances are scheduled for: Friday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m.
Titan Theater returns with Shakespeare’s Richard III, Oct. 13 to Oct. 29. Billed as the original Game of Thrones, the play takes place during the Elizabethan times after a long civil war between the royal family of York and the royal family of Lancaster.
Aquila Theatre will follow by bringing Jane Austin’s “Sense and Sensibility.” As billed, “After the untimely and unexpected death of their father, two sisters are forced to leave their comfortable lives. Their only hope is a profitable marriage. Seduction, courtship, love, heartbreak and surprise abound in this classic romantic comedy,” runs Oct. 20-22.
Theater isn’t the only entertainment scheduled for the fall season. Dance performances, kids series and special events include a totally different style with “ATTAKKU — A Rock Journey,” Saturday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m.
This rock story will be told through the eyes of Willy Mosquera (King Willy), who has worked for Queens Theatre, and will be celebrating his 27th anniversary along with ex members of ATTAKKU.
It is expected to be a night of memories, anecdotes, original songs, and some awesome cover songs by some of your favorite bands such as: Deep Purple, Guns and Roses, Red Hot Chilly Peppers, Kiss, Robi Draco Rosa, Audioslave, Beatles, The Doors and more.
For tickets and further information, call 718-760-0064.
