Plaza Suite

Neil Simon’s witty play presents 3 vignettes set in Suite 719 of New York’s Plaza Hotel. Two of which feature the same waiter but otherwise, no connection.  The set, designed by Andy Gilmore, built by him with Chris Young and Ray Lowery, showed an attractive five star suite in a well-appointed hotel, with sitting room and bedroom.

In Act One (Visitor from Mamaroneck), Ali Broughton is frustrated housewife 'Karen Nash'.  Engaging throughout, she sets the scene in 719, hoping to rekindle some honeymoon magic.  Sadly, she may have the date wrong, maybe even the room number.  Husband 'Sam' (Steve Smith), when he arrives, is more interested in some papers his secretary, 'Jean' (Nicola Shenton), has for him in the lobby.  He is vague, disinterested.  It starts to dawn on the audience and 'Karen' that he might prefer the company of that secretary.  Well delivered clever, funny dialogue, some good body language and amusing facial expressions reveal all. Scott Sloan, as the Bellhop, and David Cosgrove, as the Waiter provided just the right support.
 
Act 2 (Visitor from Hollywood), another amusing, bittersweet tale has silver fox movie producer (Steve Smith again, as 'Jesse Kiplinger'), visiting the East Coast, inviting old school friend (Ali Broughton, again, as 'Muriel Tate') to 719 to reminisce about old times.  Now a suburban Mom with two kids, with the help of a few vodka stingers, she finds herself succumbing to Jesse’s West Coast charm.  Somewhere between sitting room and bedroom, they eventually bow to the inevitable.  David Cosgrove was, once again, the Waiter.

The final Act (Visitor from Forest Hills) features Steve Smith  and Ali Broughton, again, as 'Roy and  Norma Hubley', facing a social disaster as daughter 'Mimsey' (Nicola Shenton, again) refuses to leave 719’s bathroom to attend her own wedding below. This Act allowed the actors to display more physical comedy. The parents’ relationship is nicely realised and their desperate attempts to extricate Mimsey become more physical, particularly on the part of Roy, as events unfold.  In desperation, they ask 'Borden', the groom, (Max Robertson) to come upstairs.  Frustratingly, he resolves the situation with a couple of well-chosen words.  This final act had my guest and much of the audience helpless with laughter.

The acting throughout was excellent, both funny and moving, a most entertaining, adult evening

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