Don’t miss The Book Club Play, presented by Ross Valley Players now through June 9 at the Barn Theater in Ross.
Written by Karen Zacarias and directed by Mary Ann Rodgers, the show will make you laugh and smile. It’s entertaining from start to finish thanks the extraordinary talent of the ensemble cast and creative team.
The stage (Ron Krempetz/Dhyanis) is set perfectly for a book club. Ana’s comfortable living room has a well stocked bar, cozy couches, chairs, plenty of bookshelves and warm lighting (Ellen Brooks).
As the play begins, the members of the club introduce themselves one by one. First is Ana (Elena Wright), a journalist who holds the book club in her home. She has agreed to let a documentary filmmaker set up a camera to record the club’s meetings. Next is Lily (Chiyako Delores) who works with Ana at the local newspaper. Lily joins the club to meet people since she’s new in town. Rob (Mark Vashro) is Ana’s husband. He admits he’s “not a big reader,” but likes the food and company at book club. Jen (Jannely Calmell) is a paralegal. She says books are her “best friends.” Will (Matthew Travisano) works at a history museum—he’s well read, well dressed and dated Ana before she met her husband Rob.
After the introductions, Ana explains the camera is pre-set to record the group every two weeks when they meet. The food and wine flows as they discuss the first book selected, Moby Dick.
Later in Act One, a new character, Alex (Gabriel Ross) joins the group for the first time. He’s a friend of Jen’s and a comparative literature professor. He doesn’t enjoy books anymore and claims his “connection” to books and people is “broken.”
Throughout the play, a separate character called “the pundit” (Marsha van Broek) appears between scenes offering wit and wisdom on various aspects of books and the book business. She is hilarious playing multiple roles (both male and female) including a retired librarian, secret service agent, Wal-Mart book stocker, prison bookseller and literary agent.
As the story develops and the group discusses Age of Innocence, Twilight, The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter and other familiar titles, the characters recognize the powerful effect that books have on themselves and each other.
Special thanks to Steve Price (Producer) for bringing this touching comedy to the Ross Valley Player’s stage.
Coming up next at Ross Valley Players is Crossing Delanceyby Susan Sandler and directed by Adrian Elfenbaum, September 12-October 13.
