‘10 -Minute Comedies’ @ Rover Dramawerks
—Rickey Wax
After a long hiatus, the wait is finally over: Rover Dramawerks’ popular “10 Minute Comedies” have returned. This season’s edition is a group of 11 pieces, chosen from more than 250 plays submitted blind by playwrights near and far. The run time is 110 minutes with a 15-minute intermission—and most of the performers showcase their acting chops by playing multiple characters in two or more of the plays.
Executive artistic director Carol Rice notes that “All eleven plays are considered the winners of Rover’s play contest and, in addition to their plays receiving a full production in the festival, playwrights receive $100 prize money. One play will also be voted ‘Best of the Fest’ during the run by the audience, and the playwright will receive an additional $100 prize.”
In Scott Mullen’s I Just Sneezed with a Big Mouthful of Coffee and I Do Not Recommend It, directed by Nancy Roberts Pistilli, two hypochondriacs find themselves in the place they love most—the hospital. Strangers Ricky and Helen (Luke Wallace, Andie Pace) are there at the same time, each of them nervously awaiting their prognosis from the doctor. This socially awkward comedy (Emily Cole plays a nurse) beckons the question: Would you want to date yourself? (Mullen lives in Burbank, CA.)
Whacky, zany, and absurd are the adjectives that come to mind regarding Lindsey Brown’s The Last Deck Chair in the Resort, directed by Nathan Beeman. This clash of the Karens is the ultimate showdown, as two middle-aged, overworked women fed up with their daily lives come across the same chair at the Sunshine Paradise Resort. Bailey and Hayley (Jamie Korthase, Laura Sosnowski) use tactful schemes to steal the coveted last chair. The announcer (Mike Gerecke) sadly plays referee between them—but how can ownership be decided on property that belongs to neither party? Only one of these women will walk away (or sit down?) victorious. (Brown is from Auckland, New Zealand.)
In Laurie Allen’s Stealing a Kiss, directed by Deborah Little Key, we see a widow and widower (Anthony Magee, Sue Goodner) standing at a bus stop. Harvey tries to have “a little fun while waiting on the bus” but Sue seems to pay no attention. Harvey tries from every angle to forge some kind of kinship with Sue—but she’s not interested in any of Harvey’s childlike antics, and would rather be alone “in her thoughts” until the bus arrives. Magee and Goodner teach a master class in storytelling with impressive performances on stage. (Allen lives in Odessa, TX.)
“Charlie, what is your main objective?” asks Dr. David. “To take care of you,” Charlie replies. In the hysterical comedy Charlie, written by Beth Polsky and directed by Charlotte Taylor, Charlie (Dylan Elliott) is a robot programmed to take care of his human, Dr. David (Brian Sullivan). But when Charlie learns how to override David’s commands, he teaches robot Marcy (Andie Pace) how to do the same. This puts Marcy’s owner Dr. Violet (Jamie Korthase) and David in a very uncomfortable predicament. The only solution? Figure out how to reprogram their rogue robots. In a play that examines a reversal of power, two engineers must heed the kinky and uncanny commands of the androids they once controlled—if they want to regain their power. (Polsky is based in Santa Monica, CA.)
Matt Crowley’s Couples Therapy, directed by Stan Kelly, places married couple Henry and Janet (Sinan Beskok, Sara Parisa) in a difficult scenario when they find themselves “lost in the woods.” What started as a romantic gesture takes an unlikely turn, and the couple must now confront the problems plaguing their marriage head on. Unfortunately, this therapy doesn’t seem like something a therapist would recommend—it involves a croquet mallet. Henry and Janet are determined to work things out, even if it kills one/both/all of them. (Crowley is based in Los Angeles.)
David MacGregor’s Trivial, directed by Jon-Paul McGowan, is a witty comedy about a woman named Laurie and her fiancé Alan (Heather Roberts, Dylan Elliott), who go out to a pub and coincidentally come in contact with Alan’s boss Terry (Sean Lewis). Terry (a three-time divorcee) teases Alan about typical office politics, but is stopped in his tracks by the wickedly smart Laurie during a trivia game. Alan stands as a buffer between the competitors, his soon-to-be wife and his boss. Terry insists that trivia knowledge is “useless”—but by the end of the show Laurie reveals the very reason that knowledge is indeed power. (MacGregor lives in Howell, Michigan.)
Have trouble sleeping at night due to those random 3 a.m. thoughts? You’re not alone; this is also an issue affecting the protagonist of Chuck Brestman’s Thr33, directed by Russell Sims. Insomniac (Zeke Fable) is in a seemingly unstoppable tug-of-war with his thoughts—Earworm, Workaholic, Superego, Loveline, Creator, and Worrier (Rashae Boyd, Jennifer Patton, Brad Echols, Andie Pace, Sean Lewis, Vivian Reed), who deliver stark comedy as the battle rages. Will Insomniac succumb, or defeat these thoughts? The poor guy just wants to go to sleep! (Brestman lives in Hollis, New Hampshire.)
Hallmark had better move over: there’s a new show in town called Ten Minutes ‘til Christmas by Brian Vinero, directed by Jorge Martin Lara. Who’s not a fan of those cheesy heartwarming Hallmark movies? The hot chocolate, the orphanage that always needs saving, and yes—those perfectly draped scarves. This show is guaranteed to melt the heart of any coldhearted Wall Street tycoon. Coincidentally this is the exact goal of Her (Melissa Hatch) when she crosses paths with big time executive Him (Michael Hatch). This sticky-sweet romcom is so hilarious that by the time it was over I thought I’d need an inhaler. Watch Her do her best to win the heart of Him, prove to her niece that “The magic of Christmas still exists,” and, of course, save the adorable little town of Holly Garland Corner. (Vinero is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.)
Whatever you do, make sure not to let Captain (Emily Cole) catch you slacking: you might find yourself a “crossing guard by the end of the day.” Sirens by Carol Mullen, directed by Matthew Stepan, takes place in a police station. In this paradoxical version of Law & Order: SVU, Smith and Wesson (Sara Parisa, Jennifer Patton) must crack a case with the assistance of Doc/ Specs (Jamie Korthase, who also plays Perp)—but remember, they only have 10 minutes on stage! Getting in their way is the “unexplored heat between them”—and a jaywalker who seems to be the love child of “Hitler and Stalin.” The clock is ticking. They’ve got to solve the case by end of day…or the captain will have their badges! (Mullen lives in Pittsburgh.)
Christmas is a time of cheer, family, food, and festivities. When your parents come into town, it creates magical moments and memories that last for a lifetime. But what happens when your parents come to town to reveal a deep secret that may alter the trajectory of your existence forever? That’s exactly what happens in Keith Whalen’s Coming to Town, directed by Nolan Spinks. Walter and Arlene (Brad Echols, Vivian Reed) must deliver heartbreaking news to their 35-year-old man-child Kenny (Sean Lewis), but aren’t sure how he will receive it. For all they know, their revelation could change everything Kenny believes in, and cause his “behaviors to come back” on his favorite holiday, Christmas. Will Walter and Arlene decide to go through with it—and if so, how will Kenny cope? (Whalen is from Peekskill, NY.)
In Richard Castle’s Designed 2B Deleted, directed by Dahlia Parks, Alex and Lee (Jamie Korthase, Laura Sosnowski) have designed the perfect dating app, but there’s one problem: it’s not profitable. Somehow, they must put their heads together and adjust the app to allow for a lucrative return on their investment (aka making money). Female Actor and Male Actor (Rashae Boyd, Luke Wallace) are a great duo as they perfectly capture the loving yet slightly sinister mannerisms of the commercially perfect couple found in TV ads for dating websites. (Castle is based in North Hollywood, CA.)
Rover’s “10 Minute Comedies” run April 11-20 at Plano’s Cox Playhouse—and the collection of stories have a little something for everyone, whether you love dark comedy, slapstick, or even deadpan comedy. At the end of the night the audience gets to vote on their favorite show. If you have asthma, I recommend bringing your inhaler—and if you have stitches, consider getting them tightened!
WHEN: April 11-20, 2024
WHERE: Cox Playhouse, 1517 H Ave Plano, Plano TX
WEB: roverdramawerks.com
