Joyce Rudolph
It's rare to be able to see such great American plays so close to
home. And even more rare to see them performed live by actors known
more for their work on the small screen.
But the Classic & Contemporary American Plays series is making
this phenomenon a reality at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.
With two plays under its belt this season, the company presents
the third offering "Prisoner of Second Avenue," Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday.
The Neil Simon comedy stars Bonnie Franklin ("One Day at a Time"),
Marsha Kramer (Broadway's "Peter Pan"), Steve Landesberg ("Barney
Miller") and Bruce Weitz ("Hill Street Blues").
"It's a lovely cast," said Franklin, one of the group's founders.
"The play is wonderfully funny. It's Neil Simon. I think it's one of
his best."
The story is about a couple living in the 1970s in New York, who
go through a series of trials -- they are robbed, he loses his job
and she goes to work for the first time. The comedy starts when his
family comes to visit.
"It's touching," Franklin said. "I think laugh-out-loud funny."
The next production scheduled is "A Touch of the Poet" Feb. 28 to
March 2 and finally "The Old Settler" April 18 to 20.
"It's a nice season as we're offering comedy and drama," she said.
"It's all quite remarkable."
The company produces well rehearsed staged readings of American
plays and casts them with established actors from television, film
and theater.
The selected works are written by some of the industries great
playwrights -- like Arthur Miller and Eugene O'Neill. It also gives
Los Angeles-based actors an opportunity to explore complex roles on
stage, she said.
Tickets are $25 with discounts for seniors, students and members
of SAG, AFTRA, Actors Equity and The Television Academy of Arts and
Sciences. For reservations, call (818) 243-2539. The performance is
suitable for ages 15 and up. The Alex Theatre is at 216 N. Brand
Blvd., Glendale.
