Midsummer at the Peterborough Players means a big Broadway-style musical. “She Loves Me,” is this year’s offering running on the Players’ stage July 31 through Aug. 11.
One of the most charming and popular musicals ever written, “She Loves Me” is a heart-stopping comedy about finding love in a very old-fashioned way. Georg and Amalia, sparring co-workers in a luxurious 1930s Budapest perfume shop, simply can’t see eye to eye. But using the “lonely hearts advertisements” in the newspaper, each of them has found and fallen for the perfect secret admirer. MGM twice used the same source material, the Hungarian play “Parfumerie” by Miklós László, to make classic movies: “The Shop Around the Corner” starring James Stewart and “In the Good Old Summertime” starring Judy Garland. Later, it served as inspiration for the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan rom-com “You’ve Got Mail.”
Players’ artistic director Gus Kaikkonen is at the helm of the production with a cast of 22, accompanied by live musicians. The show will be choreographed by nationally-known choreographer and Broadway dancer Bill Burns, who returns to the Players having choreographed “The Producers” in 2017. Tom Martin of Dublin rejoins the Players as music director, having won the NH Theatre Award for his work on last year’s “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
The cast includes Tom Frey (“The Producers” at the Players, “2 Pianos 4 Hands” internationally) and Rebecca Brinkley (“The Skin of Our Teeth” at the Players, “Hindle Wakes” at the Mint Theatre) as Georg and Amalia, love-struck clerks. They’re joined by Bridget Beirne (“The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Players, “That Time of the Year” at the York Theatre) as sassy co-worker Ilona, Joe Bigelow (“The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Players, world tour of “West Side Story”) as the slick Kodaly, Kraig Swartz (“Tru” at the Players, “Fully Committed” at the Philadelphia Theatre Co. and more) as the long-suffering Sipos, and Greg Wood (“Pygmalion” at the Players, “Skylight” at the McCarter Theatre) as shop owner Mr. Maraczek.
The Players are currently in the middle of their run of “Morning’s at Seven” featuring Lisa Bostnar, Kathy Manfre, Greg Wood and Swartz.
Before Paul Osborn wrote the screenplay for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s box office hit “South Pacific,” he wrote a hysterical semi-autobiographical Broadway comedy that captures Midwestern eccentricity to hilarious effect. The four highly-strung Gibbs sisters have lived next door to each other most of their lives.
Winner of four Tony Awards, “Morning’s at Seven” is a funny and deeply poignant look at the foibles of a close-knit family in the 1930s. The show runs through July 28.
Opening Aug. 14 and running through Aug. 25, “Dumas’ Camille” is written and directed by Charles Morey and features Gus Kaikkonen, Rebecca Brinkley, Bridget Beirne And Alex Carr.
In 1895 Paris, the aging Alexandre Dumas observes a rehearsal of Verdi’s “La Traviata”, the opera adapted from his novel and play, “The Lady of the Camellias” which in turn were inspired by his youthful real-life love affair with the most beautiful courtesan in Paris. Prompted by selections from the opera’s soaring arias and duets, Dumas is forced to confront his guilt, regrets, and memory of lost love.
Opening Aug. 17 and running through Aug. 24, “Cindy Reilly” is being presented by the Players’ Second Company. In this modern, musical retelling of the beloved Cinderella story, Cindy Reilly is a hard-working, bespectacled CPA, in her family-run luxury hotel, surrounded by her chic stepsisters, a rockstar “formerly known as Prince Charming,” and her Leona Helmsleyish “Queen of Mean” stepmother. Written by Kaikkonen and Swartz and composer Ellen Mandel, “Cindy Reilly” is fun is for the whole family.
Opening Aug. 28 and running through Sept. 8, “A Doll’s House, Part 2” is directed by Players’ managing director Keith Stevens and features Bostnar.
Lucas Hnath’s comedy (the most produced play in America during the 2018-19 season) picks up the story of Ibsen’s classic “A Doll’s House,” in a witty, sharp, and modern play about conflict, commitment, and consequences. Players’ favorites Bostnar and Carolyn Michel take on the roles played on Broadway by Tony winners Laurie Metcalf and Players alum Jayne Houdyshell. Rated PG-13.
Opening Sept. 11 and running through Sept. 15, “Rose” stars Carolyn Michel.
Written by Martin Sherman, “Rose” premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London where it was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Play.
Rose is a survivor. Her remarkable life began in a tiny Russian village, took her to Warsaw’s ghettos and a ship called The Exodus, and finally to the boardwalks of Atlantic City, the Arizona canyons and salsa-flavored nights in Miami Beach. The play is both a sharply drawn portrait of a feisty Jewish woman and a moving reminder of some of the events that shaped the 20th century.
For more information, visit the Peterborough Players, 55 Hadley Road, Peterborough or go online to www.peterboroughplayers.org.