12/01/2006

'Three Tables,' two venues

Leelanau Players put on buffet, one-act play

BY AL PARKER
Special to the Record-Eagle

Record-Eagle/Douglas Tesner
Cast members of the Leelanau Players’ "Three Tables" rehearse their parts. From top left clockwise: John Fitzpatrick, Jody Arens, Kate Giffer, Bart Ingraham, Annette Kleinschmit, Kristy VerSnyder and Ted Alba.

LELAND — The year was 1976. Michigan's Gerald Ford was president of the United States. Mark "The Bird” Fidrych was the talk of the baseball world and an ambitious group of Leelanau County thespians got together to stage a Bicentennial Review to honor the 200th birthday of the nation.

Receiving enthusiastic approval, the group — the Leelanau Players — decided to organize into a permanent troupe dedicated to presenting live theater in Leelanau County.

Thirty years later, they are building on their artistic legacy by hosting an evening of dining and theater with their upcoming production of "Three Tables” by Dan Remmes and directed by Susan McConnell.

Performances are scheduled for today and Saturday at the Leland Lodge and Dec. 8 and 9 at The Manor on Glen Lake. All performances will be at 7 p.m. A buffet of prime rib, chicken and spinach ravioli will be served at the Leland Lodge, while dinner at The Manor will include pecan-encrusted chicken, pork tenderloin or pasta.

”It's a one-act play that follows three very different couples at various stages of their relationships who are dining at the same restaurant,” explained Gaytha McVay, assistant director. "One is a married couple celebrating an anniversary, another is a couple who are getting divorced, and the third is two strangers who met over the Internet who are on a blind date.

"By the end of the evening, the very essence of each relationship is altered.”

McConnell is working with a seven-member cast that includes some acting veterans and others who are novices to the stage. The married couple, Mandy and Paul, is played by Kristy VerSnyder and Ted Alba. Annette Kleinschmit and Bart Ingraham portray the divorcing couple, Barbara and Michael, while Jody Arens and John Fitzpatrick are the blind daters, Doris and Todd. Kate Giffer is the waitress.

"This is Annette's first time on the stage,” said McConnell. "She's been on our board for years, but this is her first performance and she's doing a great job. John has just recently moved to the area and this is his first play with us.”

Following the first production in 1976, The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay was the venue for many plays and musical productions. However, recently the Leelanau Players branched out to other venues, including performances at the Northport Community Arts Center and Hattie's in Suttons Bay.

In recent years, the Leelanau Players have done "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding,”” Holiday Memories,” "The Cemetery Club,” "Great Expectations,” "A Literary Feast,” "Die Like a Dog in the Middle of the Road,” "Talking With” and "Our Town.”

In 2005, the group staged the musical, "The Boy Friend,” and a dinner theater production, "Out to Sea.” Earlier this year, they performed "A Stone That Rises” by local author Anne Marie Oomen.

Tickets are $30 per person for the meal and performance. A cash bar will be available. Seating is limited to 60 for each performance.

For more information, call 256-9929 or email leelanauplayers@leelanau.com.