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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — This Valentine's Day there is something romantic happening.
Here's the story: about 10 years ago, a young theater couple decided to put on a play together.
That play is “Romantic Fools” by Rich Orloff.
It is about a couple that searches for love, finds each other and settles in together to get married. It was the actors' exact story, except for, at the time, the marriage.
Now, 10 years later, the couple, Barbara Clark and John Tomlinson, are married for three years now.
“Romantic Fools” was the first play presented by their shared production company, New Vintage Productions.
With 10 years of perspective to reflect upon, they are ready to bring the show back.
“It's a fun, funny show, with a little bit of romance in time for Valentine's Day,” Tomlinson said.
The story focuses on Lori (Barbara Clark) and Andrew (John Tomlinson), two singles who relate the struggles of single life through a series of scenes.
Each is able to take on different characters in the vignettes that show blind dates, and even imagined dates, until the two finally meet at the end of the first act.
The second act has scenes of the two figuring each other out and how to make it work.
“When we first did this, in many ways we were just like Andrew and Lori when they first met. Now we feel like we have lived their lives and get to do the play again,” said Clark.
The production also marks the directing debut of Tiffany Harz for New Vintage Productions. She has been involved with the company before with “A Night at the Speakeasy.”
Audiences may also recognize her from her appearances on stage with Shakespeare at the Lake, a Lake County Theatre Co. and Mendocino College co-production.
Harz said, “I am very excited about this play! It has been such a pleasure to work with John and Barbara; they are such talented and funny actors. I cannot wait for an audience to enjoy it as much as I have.”
The play has mature themes, and is recommended for adult audiences. Still, the production team believes it is tastefully done.
“I mean it's not obscene, however it does discuss things that happen between men and women, and, well … what do you discuss between men and women?” Clark commented jokingly.
When asked what it would be like to bring back this show, Tomlinson said, “We are super excited. We've grown so much as actors, and so much as people, that it's really exciting to get to reflect on a piece that we did when we were so youthful and hopeful. And we're trying to recapture some of that now, and we hope you'll come check it out.”
“Romantic Fools” by Rich Orloff will be performed Feb. 10 to 12 at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, and Feb. 17 to 19 at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport.
Fridays and Saturdays shows are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
For more information call John Tomlinson at 707-355-2211.
- Details
- Written by: New Vintage Productions
UKIAH, Calif. — On Jan. 21 and 22, the 30th Professional Pianist Concert will once again hit the stage with two exciting concerts featuring eleven different pianists at the Mendocino College Center Theatre in Ukiah.
Performers letting the keys fly this year are Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Wendy DeWitt, Barney McClure, Frankie J, Tom Ganoung, Chris James, Elizabeth MacDougall, Ed Reinhart, Ben Rueb and Charlie Seltzer.
The musical styles range from classical to jazz, boogie-woogie to Cuban, Broadway to ragtime. Each performance will be completely different.
This utterly fun and stimulating series features the finest regional pianists on stage in a living room environment.
Throughout the performance they trade stories and melodies with two pianos on stage to accommodate impromptu collaborations.
The event is an annual sellout because of the diversity and quality of music in a multitude of styles, and the humor that takes place throughout the evening.
“Lost and Found,” a special assemblage sculpture show featuring artists Spencer Brewer and Esther Siegel, will also be on display at the Mendocino College Art Gallery throughout the weekend.
Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m., will feature Spencer Brewer, Wendy DeWitt, Chris James, Frankie J, Elizabeth MacDougall and Barney McClure.
Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. will include Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Tom Ganoung, Ed Reinhart, Ben Rueb and Charlie Seltzer.
No two concerts are the same, so if you love piano and piano music, please consider enjoying more than one performance!
The concerts benefit the Ukiah Community Concert Association, Mendocino College Recording Arts Club and the Allegro Scholarship Program.
Tickets are on sale at Mendocino Book Co. in Ukiah, Mazahar in Willits and online at www.UkiahConcerts.org.
Tickets are $25 general admission and $30 "I ‘Wanna’ See the Hands" limited seating. For more information call 707-463-2738.
Sponsors are Fowler Auto Center, Sparetime Supply, Savings Bank of Mendocino, Ukiah Community Concerts, Willits Furniture Center, Waterman Plants, K-WINE/MAX, KOZT-The Coast and KZYX/Z. Wine & refreshments will be provided by Ukiah Community Concert Association.
The Mendocino College Center Theatre is at 1000 Hensley Creek Rd in Ukiah. There will be autographed CDs, music and books by the artists for sale in the lobby.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
