BY LAUREN MORRISON
Don’t Dress for Dinner, a comedy written by Marc Camoletti and Robin Hawdon, and directed by Lauren “Lern” Morrison, will run for two weekends, Sept. 13-15 and Sept. 20-22, at Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary.
Bernard is planning a romantic weekend with his chic Parisian mistress in his charming converted French farmhouse, whilst his wife, Jacqueline, is away. He has arranged for a cordon bleu chef to prepare gourmet delights, and has invited his best friend, Robert, along too to provide the alibi.
It’s foolproof; what could possibly go wrong? Well … suppose Robert turns up not realizing quite why he has been invited. Suppose Robert and Jacqueline are secret lovers, and consequently determined that Jacqueline will not leave for the weekend. Suppose the cook has to pretend to be the mistress and the mistress can’t cook. Suppose everyone’s alibi gets confused with everyone else’s. An evening of hilarious confusion ensues as Bernard and Robert improvise at breakneck speed.
This boulevard comedy was a smash hit in Paris, where it played for more than two years, and in London, where it ran for six years at the Apollo and Duchess theatres.
It has since played in theaters all over the U.S. and the English-speaking world and was revived in Chicago and on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre in 2012. This production was nominated for two Tony Awards.
The cast of Don’t Dress for Dinner is composed of local actors whose professional credits cover Florida and beyond. In the top row, from left, are Jennifer Donlon, Matteo G. Antonio, Gage Donlon and Sally Daykin. In the bottom row, same order, are Jorge Cabal and Avery Wilson.
This hilarious situational comedy can be enjoyed at Gateway Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 20; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, and Saturday, Sept. 20; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, and Sunday, Sept. 22.
Tickets cost $18 for Gateway members and $22 for nonmembers for evening performances, and $12 for Gateway members and $15 for nonmembers for matinees.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Gateway Center’s box office at 386-668-5553 or online at GatewayCenterForTheArts.org.
Gateway Center for the Arts is located at 880 North U.S. Highway 17-92 in DeBary.
Laughing creates an appetite; come out and enjoy this show while supporting local restaurants.
