By Annabelle Blair
“Diamond Girl,” a comedy of love, superstition and a luster only diamonds can emit, made its debut last weekend, and will wrap up performances this weekend at the Theatre Box.
The script involves 10 main characters, including Carl and his wife Margaret. Margaret makes a dying request to have her ashes formed into a diamond after cremation. When Carl obliges and later proposes to his new girlfriend with the diamond, he begins to believe the ring is haunted by his late wife. Carl turns to a spiritualist for answers, and the laughs spiral from there.
Playwright Claudia Wilson has been a member of Theatre Box of Floral Park for 30 years, acting in numerous roles from an ensemble character to leading lady.
“One day it occurred to me, after having been in so many plays, why don’t I try to write one,” she said.
After the success of her first play in 2014, Wilson decided to keep going. She was inspired to write the script for “Diamond Girl” after watching a “Law and Order” episode in which victims’ ashes were turned into diamonds. She found the concept intriguing, and when her husband Bob suggested the ring become possessed, the story took flight.
Wilson worked three to four months on the script and in June, “Diamond Girl” was selected as a fall production by Ticket Box members.
The show, with a cast of 12, began rehearsals in September.
“It has been a real joy for me to see the way each actor has created their character and brought them to life,” Wilson said. “I like to encourage improv on the part of the actors, and that has made the directing process a lot of fun.”
Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church on 35 Verbena Ave. in Floral Park.
Tickets can be purchased from Theatre Box by email at theat
