Elaine Thompson plays The Woman and Mark Thiel plays The Man in the scene “Too Late for Happiness” from the play The Good Doctor
The excitement grows for many Camdenites who have long awaited the return of theatre in our community. That time is now, so you won’t want to miss a performance of Camden Civic Theatre’s (CCT) full-length production of Neil Simon’s comedy, The Good Doctor.
This is a big deal. Perhaps you’ve already enjoyed CCT’s appearances at Holiday on 44th or the Fall Heritage Storytelling event. Then you know how serious the group is in establishing theatre in the community for the long-term. Especially when considering that CCT’s founder and artistic director Jeff Redmond lives in Camden, as do many of its actors who are committed to making that happen.
Take Lind Bohanon resident Dan Hylton, loving husband and father, a geographer by day, by night he transforms into someone so out of character that he’d have you convinced he’s not the person you thought you knew. That’s the point. And he’s so adept at it that you’re caught up in his portrayal no longer believing it’s Dan – your intelligent, competent neighbor – but Ivan Ilyitch Cherdyakov, an emotional and insecure subordinate obsessed with impressing his superior at the risk of his own self-worth. But let’s not give too much away….
Guest director Jaron Burdick believes in CCT’s mission to make theatre accessible and enjoyable to the community by offering plays that are funny, engaging, intelligent and challenging, and he’s excited to be a part of CCT’s inaugural production. He hopes this play helps build and maintain an audience base and fills the desire for theatre in Camden. Burdick points out that the stage for this particular play is different from what people might normally expect in that it’s set up much like a runway with the audience seated on either side but it still includes a curtained area with backdrop. The opening monologue is crucial but Burdick says he’s directing diligent, talented actors (several are Camden residents). He adds that the tight schedule has been “hair-raising” but “that’s standard for theater” and he expects the audience will enjoy the play.
The performance runs about two hours and folks can expect a professional theatre ambience complete with ushers, programs, lighting and costumes. But at $7 a ticket, that’s at least half of what you would pay at other professional venues in Minneapolis. Additional funding to put on this performance is made possible from local Camden businesses that purchased ads in the performance program.
Go, see, and be entertained. Make your community even greater by bringing back what it’s been without for so many years. Hylton finds it “energizing to contribute something like this [theatre] to the community” thereby making Camden even better in what it has to offer residents. Redmond agrees and adds, “being an audience member is also giving back to your community.” Break a leg CCT!
The Good Doctor
by Neil Simon
Directed by Jaron Burdick
June 2 and 3, 9 and 10
All shows start at 7 p.m.
At the Creekview Community Center
5001 Humboldt Avenue North
Tickets are $7 general admission,
$5 for seniors and students available at
http://camdentheatrempls.com/boxoffice.htm
or call the CCT box office at 612-423-1077.
Group pricing also available.