LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE PRODUCES THE AMERICAN PREMIERE OFMANY HAPPY RETURNS BERNARD FARRELL’S HILARIOUS HOLIDAY COMEDY! THE FOURTH PLAY BY THE AUTHOR TO BE PRODUCED AT THE PLAYHOUSE! DIRECTED BY ANDREW BARNICLE
Limited Engagement opens Saturday, November 19 at The Laguna Playhouse!
‘Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house, there’s not a creature unlit, not even a mouse!’
Laguna Playhouse’s presents the third production of their 2005-2006 season, the hilarious comedy, MANY HAPPY RETURNS, written by Bernard Farrell, one of Ireland's premier writers of comedies for the stage, directed by Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle and starring Susan Duerden, Brendan Ford, Melanie Lora, Barry Lynch, Robin Pearson Rose and Nick Ullett. This is the fourth American premiere production The Laguna Playhouse has presented of Bernard Farrell’s work. MANY HAPPY RETURNS, opens on Saturday, November 19 and continues through Sunday, December 18 (Previews: November 15-18) at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
In MANY HAPPY RETURNS, Irene and Arthur have their house festooned for the return of Declan, the self-made millionaire from New Zealand. If everything goes to plan, Arthur’s future is secure – and it would – if Old Matty were not around to listen at doors. But celebration soon turns to consternation as family and friends are reunited in ‘Winter Wonderland’ and all the old secrets are suddenly unwrapped like the Christmas presents nobody ever wanted.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
ANDREW BARNICLE (Director/Artistic Director) Andrew arrived as artistic director of the Laguna Playhouse in July of 1991. Since then he has directed over thirty productions for the Playhouse, including: The Underpants, Bright Ideas, Tabletop, The Constant Wife, Lovers at Versailles, Rounding Third, Stella by Starlight, Wonderful World, American Buffalo, the recent World Premiere of Sherwood Kiraly’s Who’s Hot, Who’s Not, the U.S. premiere of Kevin’s Bed, Communicating Doors, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Woman in Black, Sylvia, Laughter On The 23rd Floor, Don’t Dress for Dinner, Rumors, Othello, his world premiere adaptation of his wife Sara’s translation of Goldoni’s The Liar, the Southern California premiere of Inspecting Carol, the world premiere of John Twomey’s Teacher’s Lounge, and Joe Orton’s What The Butler Saw. Andrew previously served as the Head of Theater at United States International University in San Diego, where he directed acclaimed productions of West Side Story and The Venetian Twins at the Theater At Old Town. He also served as Associate Artistic Director at North Coast Repertory Theater, where his numerous directing credits include the San Diego premiere of Torch Song Trilogy. Andrew directed Gunmetal Blues at the Colony Theatre in Burbank and the female version of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple at Michigan’s LORT Meadow Brook Theatre. He has appeared in a myriad of television and film roles, and played major roles at the San Diego Rep, Alaska Rep, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Michigan’s Meadow Brook and Hilberry Theatres. He has also appeared in several Off-Broadway productions including three at SoHo Rep and True West at the Cherry Lane Theater. Andrew appeared at the Playhouse as the Actor / Guardsman in Enter the Guardsman and also as gumshoe Sam Galahad in Gunmetal Blues, and he can also be heard on the cast recording. Playhouse audiences have also seen him as David in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday, Austin in True West, and David in Strange Snow.
BERNARD FARRELL (Playwright) was born in Sandycove, Co Dublin. His plays for theatre include I Do Not Like Thee, Dr. Fell (Dublin, The Abbey Theatre, 1979); Legs Eleven (Moving Theatre, 1979); Canaries (Abbey Theatre1980); All In Favour Say No! (Abbey Theatre, 1981); Petty Sessions (Abbey Theatre, 1983); Don Juan (adapted from Moliere, Abbey Theatre, 1984); Then Moses Met Marconi (Dubliln, TEAM Theatre, 1984); All The Way Back (Abbey Theatre, 1985); 1-2-3 O'Leary (Grips, Berlin, Dublin, Gate Theatre 1985); Because Just Because (TEAM, 1986); Say Cheese! (Abbey Theatre, 1987); Forty-Four Sycamore (Waterford and Dublin, Red Kettle, 1992); The Last Apache Reunion (Abbey Theatre, 1993); Happy Birthday, Dear Alice (Waterford and Dublin, 1994, 1995); Stella by Starlight (Dublin, Gate Theatre, 1996); and Lovers At Versailles (Abbey Theatre, 2002). His television drama includes “Lotty Coyle Loves Buddy Holly” (RTÉ, 1984); with Graham Reid, “Foreign Bodies” (BBC, 1985-1988); “Glenroe” (drama series, RTÉ); “Radio Waves” (RTÉ/BBC 1995). His radio drama includes “Gliding With Mrs Gleeson” (BBC and RTÉ); “The Scholarship Trio” (RTÉ); “The Final Whistle” (RTÉ); “When Mr. Kelly Met Mozart” (RTÉ); “The Day Grandpa Disappeared” (RTÉ); “The Year of Jimmy Somers” (RTÉ entry for 1987 Prix Italia); “The Final Whistle” (RTÉ entry for 1992 Prix Italia). His work has been translated into several languages and has been produced in the USA, Canada, UK, Belgium, Holland, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Australia. He was the Anglo Irish Bankcorp sponsored Writer in Associatation, Abbey Theatre for 1996/1997, and amongs his awards are The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. He is a member of Aosdána, and lives in Wicklow.
The Laguna Playhouse has produced four AMERICAN premieres of Bernard Farrell’s plays: Kevin’s Bed (2000); Stella by Starlight (2001) and Lovers at Versaille (2002).
The cast of MANY HAPPY RETURNS includes Susan Duerden, Brendan Ford, Melanie Lora, Barry Lynch, Robin Pearson Rose and Nick Ullett.
SUSAN DUERDEN (Irene) Susan’s worked extensively in Theatre, TV and Film in the US, UK and Canada. Leading West End theatre roles include Brooke Daniels in the award winning Popcorn, Thaisa in Pericles, Geraldine in What The Butler Saw. For London’s Open Air Theatre, Juliet in Romeo And Juliet and Vittoria in The White Devil: plus leading roles in Blue Remembered Hills, Rebels & Friends and Hanjo. Off Broadway: title role in Lady Macbeth. In Canada: Miranda in The Collector and Lady Macbeth in Lady Macbeth, both award-winning roles. In LA: Murdering Marlowe (Best Actress nomination, LA Weekly) and Four. Most recently Susan played Louise in The Underpants at The Laguna Playhouse. Television includes Emmerdale (Series Regular), The Verdict (Recurring), The Vice (Recurring), Doctors, Attachments, The Bill, 7th Heaven. Film includes Northanger Abbey, Chicane, The Trinity Tower, Spinal Tap II, So, This is Romance and recently, lead roles in The Lost Princess (HBO), The First Vampire (Pandemonium), Wannabe (7 Deadly Films) Supervolcano (BBC) and Lovewrecked opposite Amanda Bynes and Chris Carmack, releasing 2006. Susan’s just completed filming The Possession and the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Rewrite, by Will & Grace scribe Barry Langer and is currently working on an animated feature for DreamWorks.
BRENDAN FORD (Declan) West Coast audiences may remember Brendan for his recent performances as Dominic in Amy’s View at the North Coast Rep., Harper in One Slight Hitch at the Falcon Theater and Jamie in Long Day’s Journey at San Diego Rep. Other roles include Jack in Ernest in Love at the Fremont Theater, Arthur in Camelot at the Fullerton CLO, The Captain in Anything Goes for Reprise!, Neville Craven in Secret Garden at South Bay CLO, Vincent Van Gogh in the world premiere of Break of Day at the Lillian Theatre, Torvald in A Doll’s House at L.A. Rep., Marco in the world premiere of Florinda at the Freud Playhouse, and at LATC, he played Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in a 6 actor Hamlet, and Leslie in The Hostage. Brendan grew up in New York City where, among other roles, he played Laertes in Hamlet and Hastings in She Stoops to Conquer for the National Shakespeare Co., Claudio in Measure for Measure at Westbeth Theatre Center, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at Columbia Shakespeare Festival and Valere in Tartuffe at Westside Rep. Brendan has appeared in the films Clear and Present Danger, The Net, George of the Jungle and If These Walls Could Talk. Brendan appeared this Fall in the Pilot of Hot Properties on ABC and currently has a recurring role on Weekends at the D.L. on Comedy Central. Other TV credits include The District, The Pretender, V.I.P., Beverly Hills 90210, Chicago Hope, Babylon 5, Silk Stalkings and he has had recurring roles on Pauly and The Young and the Restless.
MELANIE LORA(Amanda) Recent: Dead End (Ahmanson Theatre). Regional: Raina in Arms and the Man (Avo Playhouse), Sideways Stories from Wayside School (South Coast Repertory). Los Angeles: Ohmland Live! (Geffen Playhouse), Red Light, Green Light (Evidence Room), Freshwater (Getty Center), Embedded, Orlando, Medea Macbeth Cinderella, and Nina in The Seagull (Actors' Gang), Marat Sade (Theatre of NOTE), Dreamplay (BoTh Theatre) and many others. Film/TV: Numbers, Gilmore Girls, Call Me: the Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss, and The United States of Leland.
BARRY LYNCH (Arthur) Mr. Lynch is a founding member and Executive Director of the Celtic Arts Center of Los Angeles and a member of Theatre Banshee. He has appeared in many plays in Southern California and is the recipient of 5 Drama Logue Awards for Outstanding Performance, 2 Backstage West Garland Awards, and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award for Best Actor in Connor Mc Pherson’s The Weir. Some favorite roles include Dylan in Sidney Michael’s Dylan, Victor in Arthur Miller’s The Price, Harold in Lyle Kessler’s Orphans and Governor Danforth in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
ROBIN PEARSON ROSE (Gladys) Broadway: Julia, Holiday, Ottilie, The Visit (Hal Prince: Director). Off Broadway: Nellie, Summer and Smoke (Roundabout Theatre) Regional Theatre: Ursula Loyer, VINCENT IN BRIXTON, Old Globe Theatre, Winnie, HAPPY DAYS, Rubicon Theatre, Kate Keller, ALL MY SONS (Ovation nominee), Cornelia, CARPETBAGGERS CHILDREN (South Coast Repertory Theatre) Kate Keller, ALL MY SONS (Old Globe Theatre -- Craig Noel/San Diego Critics Circle Best Actress Award) ,Ellen, KING OF THE MOON, (La Mirada,) Esme, AMY’S VIEW, (Center Rep of Walnut Creek), Margaret Tynan (“Ma”), DA,(Old Globe Theatre), Juno, JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, (American Conservatory Theatre), Isobel, Voir Dire, Agnes, Dancing at Lughnasa, Berna,Wonderful Tennessee, Diedre, Remembrance (Old Globe Theatre). Kate, Dancing at Lughnasa (La Mirada), Kate, Sylvia (Stage West, Toronto), Maggie, Joined at the Head (Pasadena Playhouse), Shirley, Inadmissable Evidence (Matrix Theatre), Margo, Dragon Lady (Southcoast Repertory), Alexandria, The Little Foxes (Indiana Rep), Marianna, Measure for Measure, Mad Agnes, The Drunkard (Williamstown Theatre), Nicole, Bourgeois Gentleman, Baal (Yale Repertory). Film: Somethings Got to Give, What Women Want,Speechless, Fearless (Peter Weir, dir.), Last Resort, Enemy of the People.(opposite, Steve McQueen) T.V.: Grey’s Anatomy (recurring), Without A Trace, Boston Public,Judging Amy, E.R., Party of Five, Murder One, L.A. Law, My Fathers Son( Beau Bridges, dir.), A Place For Annie (Hallmark Hall of Fame),The Pack (HBO), Lucy & Desi, Before The Laughter, Promised A Miracle, Paper Chase, Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (recurring), Night Court(recurring), Empty Nest (recurring), White Shadow (series regular). Associate Artist, Old Globe Theatre. M.F.A. Yale School of Drama.
NICK ULLETT(Matty) arrived from England as half of a comedy team and did everything from seven Ed Sullivan Shows to Thornton Wilder’s Infancy on PBS. Continuing alone as an actor he ran the gamut from improvisational theatre in LA to creating the role of Gerald in the musical Me and My Girl on Broadway, where he was also seen in Loot and Gay Divorce. On television, among other shows you could have caught him on Yes Dear, The Practice, Home Improvement, Golden Girls, Night Court, Murphy Brown, As the World Turns, and the movie of the week When Billie Beat Bobby. On film he destroyed things in Down and Out in Beverly Hills and was Pirate Jailor in Spielberg’s Hook. His one man show, Laughing Matters, was highly acclaimed when it opened the season for Primary Stages in New York. In the last couple of years he has also been in Faith Healer, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Woman in Black, the New York premiere of Tooth and Claw at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, School for Scandal at the Mark Taper Forum and Zhivago, the Musical at La Jolla.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS has assembled an award winning design team. The set design is by Dwight Richard Odle. The lighting design is by Paulie Jenkins. The sound design is by David Edwards. The Costume design is by Julie Keen.
Tickets are now on sale. Subscription packages including this play are available for purchase now.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS Performance & Ticket Information:
Ticket Prices: $20 to $59
Previews:
Tuesday & Wednesday, Nov. 15 & 16, 8 pm, $32, $20
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2 pm & 8 pm, $32, $20
Friday, Nov. 18, 8 pm, $36, $20
Opening Night Gala:
Saturday, November 19, 7:30 pm
By invitation only
Regular Performances
November 20 – December 18:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 8 pm, $49, $30, $20
Saturdays, Sundays, 2 pm, $49, $30, $20
Fridays, 8 pm, $55, $30, $20
Saturdays, 8 pm, $59
Also, Sunday, November 27 at 7pm;
Thursday, December 1, 2 pm,
Sunday, December 11 at 7pm $49, $30, $20
Please note there is no Thanksgiving Day performance
