A Rose-Colored Comedy Has Opened Theater Barn’s Season

RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield Theater Barn opened its 40th season last weekend with Romantic Comedy, a work by Bernard Slide written as a valentine to all the romantic comedies he had seen and appeared in as an actor. The rose-colored view of this genre, he has said, appealed to his romantic sensibilities.

The attractive drawing rooms peopled with charming men and women represented to him a life that was never part of his impoverished youth. And so he created Romantic Comedy, a play that brings the audience into the warm and cozy study of a successful playwright, Jason Carmichael.  As a salute to the comedies of the Thirties and Forties, Mr Carmichael chose to structure the play with three acts to tell the roller coaster story of would-be lovers who are the victims of bad timing.

Bernard Slade is also the playwright who penned Same Time, Next Year and Tribute. He was also the creator of television series The Partridge Family, The Flying Nun and Bewitched.

Performances will continue weekends through April 9.

An experienced cast from Fairfield County and New York bring the characters to life in The Barn’s cabaret-style theater. Will Jeffries of Newtown and Rosemary Howard of Stamford play the writing duo. Suzanne Lewin and Lynne Melillo (April performances) of New Canaan,  Melissa Power of Ridgefield (March performances), Kristi McKeever of Newtown, and Ryan Katzer of Beacon, N.Y., complete the cast as the spouses, friends and lovers of Jason and Phoebe.

The production is being directed by Cathy Fitzpatrick Linder of Redding, who directed past RTB productions Light Up the Sky and Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

Paul Losacco, also of Redding, is producing; he also handled the light design. Ridgefield residents Peter Sayer designed the set, Melissa Power has costumed the actors, and Jose Helu designed the sound.

Performances will continue on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm. A Sunday matinee is planned for April 3 at 2 pm.

Seating is cabaret style, and audience members are invited to bring food and beverage. Doors open one hour before performance.

Tickets are $18 for adults, and $15 for seniors (ages 62 and up) and students. A special rate is offered for groups over 20.  Area restaurants are offering take-away picnics to enjoy at the theater prior to the show.

For more information visit www.TheaterBarn.org, and for reservations call 203-431-9850. Ridgefield Theater Barn is at 37 Halpin Lane.