'Lunch Hour'
The 79th season of the Butler Little Theatre continues with the rousing lunchtime romp, “Lunch Hour” by Jean Kerr, opening Jan. 17.
Under the direction of Don Shearer, two couples weave laughter and romance together in an unlikely fashion.
The show is being produced by Amy Cannard.
The play pairs an unlikely duo whose spouses are secretly having an affair. They decide to counter by “inventing” an affair of their own in hopes of making their spouses jealous.
Sis Fleming of Butler is playing the woman who is having an affair.
“Nora DeVreck is not very happy in her marriage,” said Fleming of her character's relationship with husband, Oliver. “The show is an example of how any relationship needs both parties to commit time and attention for it to be successful. One person cannot make a relationship work on their own.”
She added, “Although the nature of the storyline is serious, the writing of the play gives us the opportunity to poke fun at the situation. Despite there being a few touching moments, the audience will spend most of the evening in laughter.”
Area actor Stefan Lingenfelter is playing Oliver, who is, somewhat ironically, a marriage counselor and a bit stodgy while his wife Nora easily juggles husband and lover.
Her lover, Peter, is being played by Gino DiNardo of Pittsburgh.
“Peter is the millionaire who has never known want of anything; he finds himself at odds with the wants and needs of others,” DiNardo said.
Peter's wife, Carrie, is being portrayed by Sarah Altomari of Butler Township. “Carrie is such an interesting character to play because she is emotionally repressed and extremely self-conscious, while also being wildly unaware of her physical surroundings,” said Altomari.
“She yearns for personal growth in a world where everyone expects her to remain childlike,” she said.
DiNardo is a civil engineer by day, but will be delving into the world of infidelity on stage. “This is a plausible scenario that has likely played out in the lives of millions, in some form. It is fun to root for Carrie as she attempts to right the wrongs done to her,” he said.
The blocking is the only challenge DiNardo sees with the production, and only when all five actors are in the same scene.
Grant Allen Clark is portraying Leo Simpson, an actor and the downstairs neighbor to Oliver and Nora.
WHO: Butler Little TheatreWHAT: “Lunch Hour” by Jean KerrWHEN: Jan. 17 to 25, with curtain at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayWHERE: BLT, One Howard St.TICKETS: $13 online at ButlerLittleTheatre.com, or at the door 45 minutes prior to curtain when available.
