In their last show they took you to the wildest parts of Northern Florida for an outlandish comic ride. Now Asheville Community Theatre travels back in time to 1960’s London to a West End furrier salon. Though the play had its premiere in 1967, this marks the first time in ACT’s history that the retro comedy has been produced. Not Now, Darling opens August 21, 2015 and runs through August 30, 2015 with performances at 7:30 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 pm on Sundays. Tickets are available online at www.ashevilletheatre.org, over the phone at 828-254-1320, or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre Box Office.
Bodley, Bodley, and Crouch is a fur salon in central London, managed by Arnold Crouch, who tries to run a tight ship when it comes to the fur business, and his associate, Gilbert Bodley, who has a looser take on things. All seems to be going right in the world until Gilbert lets the personal affections he has for his mistress to get in the way of good business. Gilbert plans to sell an expensive mink to a customer, who happens to be his mistress’s husband, for dirt cheap in order to satisfy his lover. His plan backfires when the mink is mixed in a web of other mistresses, an angry wife, and slightly confused assistant.
“This is a pure confection of a show,” said Executive Director Susan Harper. “It’s a vintage farce, so we get the silliness of a comedy mixed with the retro visuals of the 1960s. We actually have quite an extensive fur collection in our costume stock, all donated over the years, that we’re excited to break out.”
Not Now, Darling is directed by Ralph Redpath, who has had a long history at ACT. Not only is he the former Artistic Director, but he has also been a devoted acting teacher for adult acting classes and a director for many shows at ACT such as To Kill A Mockingbird and Miss Ever’s Boys. The scenic design is by Jack Lindsay and the costume design is by Deborah Austin.
The cast of Not Now, Darling features a cast of 11, including newcomer Michael Keene as Gilbert Bodley and Jerry Crouch (as Arnold Crouch) who recently directed two of our 69th season Mainstage shows, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Addams Family.
“I swore up and down that The Big Bang (in 2011) would be my swan song acting on the ACT Mainstage,” said Crouch. “But if anyone could entice me to return, it would be my original ACT director, Ralph Redpath. He cast me as The Emcee in Cabaret in 1987 and I’m thrilled to be once again partnering with my dear friend!”
Joining Michael and Jerry onstage are Cary Nichols, Steven Turner, Kristen Livengood, Jorja Ursin, Bruce Gruber, Heather Snipes, Emily Crock, Rachel Adams and Christian Carmean.
For more information about Not Now, Darling or about Asheville Community Theatre, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.