Our 2018 production was 2 Across: A Comedy of Crosswords and Romance, by Jerry Mayer.
Photos above by Terri Foley from the February production at the Dog Story Theatre.
We were delighted to share this production in February, 2018 at the Lake Effect Fringe Festival in Grand Rapids, MI at the Dog Story Theatre and to bring it to The Snug Theatre in Marine City, MI June 1- 10, 2018. Available for tour with 3 months notice.
The play first premiered at the Santa Monica Playhouse, in Southern California, in 2004. The Los Angeles times said of the original Santa Monica production, “2 Across strives to entertain and succeeds admirably. This is a charming, character-driven comedy.” Two strangers, a man and a woman, board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 am. They’re alone in the car, each is married, and both are doing the New York Times crossword. She’s organized and sensible. He’s a free spirit. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, “Crosswords are a metaphor for life; those who give up on puzzles give up on the important things, too!” Boy meets girl, does boy get girl?
Photos above by Terri Foley from the February production at the Dog Story Theatre.
We were delighted to share this production in February, 2018 at the Lake Effect Fringe Festival in Grand Rapids, MI at the Dog Story Theatre and to bring it to The Snug Theatre in Marine City, MI June 1- 10, 2018. Available for tour with 3 months notice.
The play first premiered at the Santa Monica Playhouse, in Southern California, in 2004. The Los Angeles times said of the original Santa Monica production, “2 Across strives to entertain and succeeds admirably. This is a charming, character-driven comedy.” Two strangers, a man and a woman, board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 am. They’re alone in the car, each is married, and both are doing the New York Times crossword. She’s organized and sensible. He’s a free spirit. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, “Crosswords are a metaphor for life; those who give up on puzzles give up on the important things, too!” Boy meets girl, does boy get girl?
Our 2017 production for Lake Effect Fringe Festival also traveled to The Snug Theatre in Marine City, MI. Romance is a distant memory for two lonely animal lovers living in Dublin. When forlorn Dan and his dog Chapatti cross paths with the amiable Betty and her nineteen cats, an unexpected spark begins a warm and gentle story about two people rediscovering the importance of human companionship. Originally commissioned as a radio play, this deeply emotional two character play combines traditional Irish storytelling with conventional dialogue laced with charm and a dark sense of Irish humor.
Paula Bradley of Encore Michigan writes, "This production of Chapatti is presented by GEM Theatrics,(and) showcases the wide theatrical range of Mitchell and Quillin. For example, the dog and the cats “appear” on stage in several scenes through the convincing pantomime of both characters. They also effectively use narrative exposition to convey the realness of other characters such as Peggy who, while not technically present on stage, interact with Dan and Betty.
Any show written for only two performers naturally puts a heavy burden of dialogue on each. But Mitchell and Quillin do not stumble, even in their Irish accents, and in fact keep the pacing just right. There are no moments that drag, and there is a perpetual anticipation of what will happen next. That pacing, combined with a compelling script, make the one hour and forty-five minute show seem shorter. And while the overall tone of the play is dramatic, both Mitchell and Quillin deliver the funny moments with ease—from Dan, who is funny because he is so serious, and from Betty, who is funny because she is rarely serious."
Paula Bradley of Encore Michigan writes, "This production of Chapatti is presented by GEM Theatrics,(and) showcases the wide theatrical range of Mitchell and Quillin. For example, the dog and the cats “appear” on stage in several scenes through the convincing pantomime of both characters. They also effectively use narrative exposition to convey the realness of other characters such as Peggy who, while not technically present on stage, interact with Dan and Betty.
Any show written for only two performers naturally puts a heavy burden of dialogue on each. But Mitchell and Quillin do not stumble, even in their Irish accents, and in fact keep the pacing just right. There are no moments that drag, and there is a perpetual anticipation of what will happen next. That pacing, combined with a compelling script, make the one hour and forty-five minute show seem shorter. And while the overall tone of the play is dramatic, both Mitchell and Quillin deliver the funny moments with ease—from Dan, who is funny because he is so serious, and from Betty, who is funny because she is rarely serious."
Photos from the 2017 Lake Effect Fringe Festival Production at the Dog Story Theater
in Grand Rapids, MI. Credit: Tim & Terri Foley.
(Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.)
in Grand Rapids, MI. Credit: Tim & Terri Foley.
(Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.)
A Contemporary Comedy forLovers of All Ages - Old Love, by Norm Foster
This production was first presented at the Lake Effect Fringe Festival in Grand Rapids, MI in February of 2015 and reprised at The Snug Theatre in Marine City, MI the following summer. It is not available for tour.
Meet Bud and Molly: he’s working for the company owned by her husband. They meet at a company Christmas party and he is immediately infatuated with her. Over the next 25 years, they meet sporadically, as the play moves forward and back through time. Now, he’s divorced and she’s recently widowed. He sets out to woo her starting the day of her husband’s funeral in this contemporary romantic comedy.
Norm Foster, hailed as “Canada’s Neil Simon” has crafted a unique piece, designed to be played by either two actors or up to seven. Gary and Mary Beth play not only Bud and Molly in the present and in the flashbacks, but also the former spouses of each: the self-centered Kitty and the one-dimensional Arthur; grown son, Arthur Jr. and his upwardly mobile wife, Kendra.
"But it's the acting that makes or breaks the story. . . and here Quillin and Mitchell serve the story quite well." -- Donald V. Calamia, Encore Michigan.
Meet Bud and Molly: he’s working for the company owned by her husband. They meet at a company Christmas party and he is immediately infatuated with her. Over the next 25 years, they meet sporadically, as the play moves forward and back through time. Now, he’s divorced and she’s recently widowed. He sets out to woo her starting the day of her husband’s funeral in this contemporary romantic comedy.
Norm Foster, hailed as “Canada’s Neil Simon” has crafted a unique piece, designed to be played by either two actors or up to seven. Gary and Mary Beth play not only Bud and Molly in the present and in the flashbacks, but also the former spouses of each: the self-centered Kitty and the one-dimensional Arthur; grown son, Arthur Jr. and his upwardly mobile wife, Kendra.
"But it's the acting that makes or breaks the story. . . and here Quillin and Mitchell serve the story quite well." -- Donald V. Calamia, Encore Michigan.
All photos by Terri Foley
Working for a Living: Two One-Act Plays
GEM'S 2013 Contribution to the Lake Effect Fringe Festival:
Rock of Ages, by Mary G. Kron and The Interview, by Patrick M. Bailey
Terri Foley, Kate Bode, Beth Ann Schaub, and Jessica Fountain.
Cast members for Rock of Ages included: Mary McGuire Howing, Matthew Fowler, Terri Foley, Beth Ann Schaub, Jeanine Heemstra, Kate Bode, Danielle C. Slot and Jessica Fountain. Directed by Gary E. Mitchell.
LEFT: Matthew Fowler
RIGHT: Jeanine Heemstra, Mary McGuire Howing, Kate Bode
LEFT: Mary McGuire Howing
RIGHT: Danielle Slot, Mary McGuire Howing, Kate Bode
Bernice Anne Houseward, Michael Kohlenberger and Julia Yob: The Interview.
The Interview, by Patrick M. Bailey was directed by Mary Beth Quillin and featured Bernice Anne Houseward, Julia Yob and Michael Kohlenberger.