The Angle of Mercy GreenMan Theatre Troupe announces its first production back in its theatre space (232 S York, Elmhurst) after the COVID shutdown: the world premiere of The Angle of Mercy, a comedy written and directed by Craig Gustafson. The Angle of Mercy takes place at a Hollywood party in 1947, where glamour and fashion mix with intrigue and sex to provide a comedy that combines Burns and Allen-style wordplay with door slamming farce. Eric and Mary Ryan, a screenwriter and his radio star wife, are at a party in honor of the studio's signing of sex bomb movie star Iila Wolverton. Eric's career is in flux - he wants to become a producer; their friends, Ruth (costume designer) and Cliff (film noir star) Lerner are having marital troubles; Iila has to deal with bullying studio head Frank Staerkel; and gangster Chinese Charlie Leoni & his girlfriend Marilyn Uzitis crash the party to stop production of Eric's "Murder in the Fog." Mary, whose train of logic runs on a completely different track from anyone else's, decides to help everybody with their problems. She is the Angle of Mercy. Cast includes Jennifer Ciombor (Wheaton), John Corona (Highland, IN), Angela DeMarco (Orland Park), Neal Goldman (Willow Springs), Margie Gustafson (Lombard), Peter Lemongelli (Cicero), Kasia Salim (Plainfield) and Sean Thomas (Wheaton). Assistant Director/Stage Manager is Michelle Ho (Woodridge.) This is the first full-length comedy by Gustafson, a long-time GreenMan director/actor, whose short plays have been published in three anthologies. Auditions were held two years ago. Originally slated for March of 2020, The Angle of Mercy was canceled by the COVID shutdown one day before its first rehearsal. Performances are April 29 - May 15 in the lower level at First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst 232 S York Elmhurst, IL 60126. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:00. For reservations and information, go to www.GreenManTheatre.org or call (630) 464-2646. |