Playwright Charles Busch is known for being an actor, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, director and drag legend, as well as the star of the film “Die Mommie Die.” Perhaps best known as the author of Broadway’s “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” his latest play “Olive and the Bitter Herbs” is being presented by Kentwood Players at the Westchester Playhouse through Saturday, Aug.13. The production is directed by Kirk Larson and produced by Lori A. Marple-Pereslete by special arrangement with Samuel French.
OLIVE AND THE BITTER HERBS centers on the life of Olive Fisher (Gail Bernardi), an elderly character actress whose claim to fame was her iconic “Gimme the Sausage” commercials of the 1980s. She is a classic New York curmudgeon at war with the world, in particular her gay next-door neighbors Robert (Ken MacFarlane) and Trey (Daniel Kruger), whose love of stinky cheese is driving her crazy.
Olive’s closed-off life is shaken by the appearance of a spectral male figure viewed only by her through her living room mirror. This appearance, along with the help of Sylvan (Martin Feldman), father of the co-op’s board president, and Olive’s only “friend” Wendy (Alison Mattiza), brings together the feuding neighbors for a comedic Passover Seder that will no doubt remind you of unpleasant family dinners where those around the table seem to only want to drink and argue the night away. It’s a comedic genius of a scene.
A series of strange and outrageous coincidences reveals that Howard, the man in the mirror, has intimate links to everyone seated around the Seder table, proving when you look deep enough, all people are related by six degrees of separation. But why doesn’t that fact make these characters feel closer to each other? Just what is it about Olive that pushes people away from her? Will Howard and Sylvan’s encouragement that it’s never too late to change one’s life and perhaps find love ever be heard by Olive? The story unfolds with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end.
“Olive and the Bitter Herbs” by Charles Busch continues through Saturday, Aug. 13, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Westchester Playhouse 8301 Hindry Ave Westchester. Tickets are $20 with a $2 discount for seniors and students. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 310-645-5156. You may also purchase tickets online at www.kentwoodplayers.org. For group ticket sales of 10 or more, call the box office Wed-Sat from 4 to 7 p.m. for group rates. Be forewarned, the subject matter and language in the play are definitely not for children.
For more information about Kentwood Players including their upcoming productions and auditions, please visit the Kentwood Players website at www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook and Twitter. The group is celebrating more than 66 years of continuous live theatre presentations produced and performed by volunteers who donate their time and talents to create each award-winning season of six shows; a mixture of comedies, dramas, mysteries, classics and musicals.
On a personal note, I walked into the Westchester Playhouse to see a show in 2003 and was immediately drawn into this dedicated group of theatre people, and I have been a proud Kentwood Players member ever since.
If you are looking for a great way to celebrate the joy of live theatre, and to learn more about Kentwood Players and what goes on at the Westchester Playhouse, the public is invited to attend their membership meetings, which are free and held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Westchester Playhouse, located two blocks west of the San Diego Freeway and two blocks north of Manchester at 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. I guarantee you will find your own way into any aspect of live theatre that interests you.
