Do know the song “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over?”
It could refer to theater in central Pennsylvania, where seasons are longer and busier than ever.
This month proves the rule. Among the highlights: a historical drama (with romance), a romantic comedy, and an original production paying homage to the capital region—on stage at Reservoir Park (Gamut Theatre Group’s Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival), Theatre Harrisburg and Open Stage of Harrisburg, respectively.
Love and Duty
Ancient Rome and Egypt form the backdrop for the annual Shakespeare in the Park production, which this year is “Antony and Cleopatra.” The play, directed by Karen Ruch, continues through June 14.
It’s debatable whether Cleopatra—who had been romantically involved with her mentor, Julius Caesar, and might still be grieving for him—was in love with Mark Antony or merely “playing” him. Ruch essentially leaves that for the actors to decipher.
“Clearly, Cleopatra knew how to navigate the powers of Rome,” she said. “After Antony’s death, she tries to make a play for the next emperor, Octavius, but doesn’t succeed.”
Shakespeare’s play touches more generally on what makes a relationship work—or not. The lovers die by their own hands in the end—two mature adults, not the young, impulsive Romeo and Juliet.
Ultimately, for the director, “Antony and Cleopatra” concerns the conflict between love and duty and contrasting Roman and Egyptian values.
“Their relationship was not legitimate according to Roman law,” Ruch explained. “The Romans were notorious for promiscuity, but then moved on. Antony disappeared into the relationship and, thus, became less Roman.”
Philip Weaver and Francesca Amendolia portray the star-crossed lovers. Jeff Luttermoser is Octavius, and Thomas Weaver is Enobarbus.
Red Hot
Theatre Harrisburg’s final production of the season is “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” running from June 13 to 22 and staged by Robert Campbell in his directorial debut with the community theater.
“One thing I like about the play is that it’s a Neil Simon brand of comedy, uniquely funny but grounded in real people behaving like real people,” he said. “There are surprises, because the people don’t fit any formula.”
Campbell also admires “Red Hot Lovers” as one of those works in which the director can “get out of the way.” “In a Simon play, it’s all there,” he said. “No need to conceptualize.”
“Red Hot Lovers” is like a collection of one acts, unified by the attempt of the nice-but-nerdy Barney (played by Richard Johnson) “to do a not-nice thing”—commit adultery, said Campbell. “He wants to do something sexy, hot and exciting. Looking for excitement is something most people can identify with.”
Each of the three acts focuses on a different (and distinctive) woman Barney considers—portrayed by Lydia Graeff, Chelsea Day and Lisa Weitzman. “Deep down, he thinks he should, but really doesn’t want to,” Campbell said. “So, there’s self-sabotaging”—especially if you consider where he takes the women.
Set in the late-‘60s, “Red Hot Lovers” ends on a “sweet note,” as Barney reaches to call—well, we won’t give that away either.
Home Story
Though the “official” season of Open Stage of Harrisburg ends in May, June has, for several years, been devoted to a standalone original production. For the third year in a row, the theater is presenting “Stories from Home,” a tribute to the region.
Running from June 19 to 29, this year’s edition focuses on the 8th Ward of Harrisburg, as well as Steelton and Paxtang—the latter celebrating its 250th anniversary.
“The 8th Ward was like the Lower East Side of Harrisburg,” said Anne Alsedek, who directs “Stories from Home” and writes the scripts with an assist from her casts. “It drew a mixed population of African Americans, Jews and Irish, who then moved on. Beth El AME and other churches and synagogues were born there. The tenements were torn down to make way for an expanding Capitol complex.”
There’s other rich history. People may not know that, when Lincoln was making his whistle stop in Harrisburg, the Pinkerton Agency received a tip that there would be an assassination attempt on his life. “Thanks to the coachman of Simon Cameron, an African-American former slave who was a member of Bethel AME, the president was spirited out of the city by night, in disguise,” said Alsedek, Open Stage’s education director.
“Stories from Home” recalls less palatable aspects of history as well, including the tale of the Paxton Boys, frontiersmen along the Susquehanna who formed a vigilante group. They retaliated in 1763 against local Native Americans in the aftermath of the French and Indian War and are known for murdering 20 Susquehannock Indians in events collectively called the Conestoga Massacre. “This is alluded to in the novel ‘A Light in the Forest’ and the film version,” Alsedek noted.
The ensemble cast includes John Bailey, Nina Beesley and Ferris Evans in their Open Stage debuts, as well as Aaron Bomar, Jeremy Patterson, J. C. Payne and Cassandra Potter. Yoleidy Rosario is the stage manager.
“’Stories from Home’ is fortunate to have developed a partnership this year with the three Dauphin County commissioners—Jeff Haste, George Hartwick III and Mike Pries—who are lending financial support and co-presenting,” Alsedek added. “We had always hoped the productions would move beyond Harrisburg.”
More Great Theater
There are many other productions this month—too many to detail here. But the highlights include:
- Allenberry Playhouse, “Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath,” a farce, through June 15, followed by the musical “42nd Street,” June 18 to July 20.
- Dreamwrights Youth and Family Theatre, “My Favorite Year,” a comedy based on the movie, June 26 to 29.
- Ephrata Performing Arts Center, “Agnes of God,” psychological thriller, June 12 to 28.
- The Fulton Theatre’s evergreen musical “Les Miserables,” June 3 to 29.
- Gretna Theatre’s “Tribute to the Four Seasons,” June 12 to 15, followed by Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot,” June 19 to 29.
- Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, “Reefer Madness,” a musical, June 6 to 21.
- Oyster Mill Playhouse, “Jeeves in Bloom,” a comedy, June 6 to 22.
- York Little Theatre, mega-hit musical “Gypsy,” June 20 to 29.
Peeking into next month, be sure to check out the Carlisle Theatre Company’s take on the musical comedy, “Once Upon a Mattress,” July 3 to 6.
