South City set to debut “Romantic Comedy”

Published 12:59 pm Wednesday, January 17, 2018

PELHAM – South City Theatre is preparing to bring its newest production, “Romantic Comedy,” to audiences on Friday, Jan. 26.

Director Pat Yates, retired theatre director for Mountain Brook High School, leads the cast that includes Lori Edwards, Rachael Pike Burnett, Todd Ponder, and Gena Frances Casey.

The play was written by Bernard Slade, who also created the play “Same Time Next Year,” and wrote several episodes of television shows like The Flying Nun, The Partridge Family, Bridget Loves Bernie and Bewitched.

The play centers on arrogant, self-centered and sharp-tongued Jason Carmichael (played by Cliff Keen, Jr.), who is the successful co-author of Broadway romantic comedies. He is facing two momentous events in his life: he is about to marry a society belle and his collaborator is retiring.

Enter Phoebe Craddock (played by Ashley Richardson), a teacher from Vermont and a budding playwright. Quicker than a flash, Jason acquires a talented and adoring collaborator in the mousy Phoebe. Fame and success are theirs for 10 years and then Jason’s world falls apart. His wife divorces him to go into politics and Phoebe, whose love for Jason was unrequited, marries a journalist and moves to Paris.

Jason goes into professional, financial and physical decline as a newly chic Phoebe returns, solo and successful. Will they ever get together?

Performances are set for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26-27, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 1-3, at 7:30 p.m.

South City Theatre is located at 2969 Pelham Parkway, Suites J-K. Tickets are $16 general admission, $13 for senior citizens over the age of 60 and students under 18. Purchase tickets online at www.southcitytheatre.com/get-reservations or call 621-2128 and leave a message.

Seating is limited so those who would like to attend are encouraged to secure tickets in advance.