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Marrying Terry
A Tale of Love and Radiology
By Gregg Opelka
Directed by Suzanne Avery-Thompson
Produced by Nightingale Group
At Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre
2257 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Call 773-871-3000, tickets $30, $24 for students and seniors
Wednesdays thru Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission
Through January 27, 2008
Hilarious modern romantic comedy has hints of those smart comedies of the 60’s
Gregg Opelka is a terrific Chicago composer and lyricist having penned enjoyable shows such as La Vie Ennui, Soup Du Jour and Hotel d’Amour among others fine musicals. But Opelka has another talent—comedy writing as evidenced in his first ‘straight’ play—Marrying Terry. This is a hoot! Opelka writes in the tradition of Neil Simon as he has penned a smart, witty and romantic comedy in Marrying Terry. This is a New Year’s Eve comedy as opposed to a Christmas comedy. Filled with lovable everyday folks caught in ridiculous situations, Marrying Terry is a funny, sweet old fashion romantic comedy in the vein of those 50’s – 60’s scripts that you’d find Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, Doris Day or Rock Hudson in.
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In Marrying Terry, it is New Years Eve in present day Chicago and a blizzard has hit the Windy City. Dr. Terry Adams (Dan Rodden in a Don Knotts meets Gary Grant styled performance) must get x-rays to his boss at the Drake Hotel. His finance, Penny (the hilarious Mary Mulligan) intimates Terry into proposing marriage. Once at the Drake, Dr. Terry meets Dr. Harlan (Ron Keaton) and Sam (Brian Simmons), a divorce lawyer in the hotel bar. These drinkers intimate Dr. Terry to have a few shots of Tequila in celebration of his engagement. The non-drinking radiologist passes out in the bar after 5 belts.
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Meanwhile Terry Adams (the fabulously funny Ana Sferruzza), a female rare books librarian who is convinced by her girlfriend Janet (Debbie Laumand-Blanc) to get a room at the Drake to meet up with her fiancé, Jonathan (Paul Perroni) who arrives from Boston hoping that he’ll ask for her hand in marriage. While Terry and Janet are shopping at the hotel’s gift shop, the hotel staff has a shift change. Meanwhile, Sam and Dr. Harlan ask for a room so Dr. Terry can sleep off his drunkenness. The clerk sees that a ‘Terry Adams’ already has a room and the two deposit Dr. Terry in the room.
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The adventure ignites when Terry, the librarian finds Dr. Terry sleeping in her bed in her room. What follows is a clever plotted and excellently performed comedy of outlandish situations. Dan Rodden anchors the comedy with side-splitting verbal and physical comedy. Ana Sferruzza is his equal in many zany twists exploding into a warmly charming comedy. We care about both Terrys and we cheer for each to resolve their dilemmas. Opelka blends comedy with flashes of romance that makes the obvious conclusion more about the how these two Terry’s become soul mates.
He ties all the supporting characters into a classic comedy model. This highly entertaining, light weight show is a contemporary romantic comedy in full bloom. Who said they don’t write old fashion smart comedies? Gregg Opelka offers a funny nostalgic romantic comedy that captivates. Dan Rodden and Ana Sferruzza are terrific as the Terrys. The ensemble performances add much humor. It is refreshing to laugh at the foibles of nice folks. Gregg Opelka can add successful playwright to his impressive theatre credits.
Highly Recommend
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2007
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