On July 10th, 2015, the Novato Theater Company opened the hit musical New Wrinkles by Rita Abrams, Gerald Nachman, and Morris Bobrow. Morris Bobrow actually directed this production, and Rita Abrams was the piano accompanist. The very talented cast included Erika Alstrom, Nan Ayers, Mark Clark, Paula Gianetti, and Kit Grimm.
This hilarious and heartfelt musical revue serves up the pains, perils, and poignancy of aging in clever and crowd-pleasing sketches and songs. Topics include high school reunions, finances, plastic surgery, aches and pains, sexual enhancement, hair loss, and (of course) new wrinkles.
Gerald Nachman and his collaborators Morris Bobrow and Rita Abrams first concocted this musical comedy revue in 2002. It was built around the horrors and humiliations of aging. This show, which has since had nearly 20 productions in the USA and Canada, includes sketches by Nachman about a mid-aged couple on a date who get increasingly sexually excited as they compare medical conditions; a flirtatious macho guy in a restaurant resisting a cute waitress’ urging that he order from the “senior” menu; a married couple who realize that the moment their daughter leaves the house for college they have nothing to say to each other; a TV commercial for a dating service that makes you feel younger by hooking you up with little old ladies; and two old friends who meet on a street corner for lunch but can’t remember why. Abrams’ and Bobrow’s songs include numbers about plastic surgery, a fantasy doctor who advises you to eat more cheese burgers and hot fudge sundaes; a man who realizes every authority figure is younger than he is; and a woman who laments that she has moved from a “Miss” to a “Ma’m.” An outstanding song by Abrams performed with dignity by Erika Alstrom and Nan Ayers was “Woman in her Prime,” a real show-stopper!
The simple set was designed by Mark Clark with 2 chairs stage left and stage right, with 2 stools on a riser center stage. The effective lighting was by Halina, with Sandi Rubay on the Sound Design. The brilliant choreography was by Sherry Hines. The whole cast contributed to the original costumes.
Don’t miss this bright and clever musical New Wrinkles: The Middle Age (and beyond!)
Tickets are going fast! This sassy musical plays for 3 weekends, July 10 through July 26 at the Novato Theatre Company, 5420 Nave Drive in Novato, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Order Tickets online (purchase and print them more than two hours before each performance) at www.NovatoTheaterCompany.org or Buy Tickets (with cash or check only) for theater walkups at 7:00 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays; and at 1:00 p.m. Sundays. Call 415-883-4493 for questions and information. Open seating, free parking.
Photo credit: Fred Deneau
Next at NTC: to start the Novato Theater Company’s 2015-2016 season will be Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike by Christopher Durang, directed by Buzz Halsing, from August 26 to September 20, 2015.
FLORA LYNN ISAACSON
