Acts of Love

by Kathryn Chetkovichk
directed by Robert Ashton

April 1–10, 2011

As the curtain rises, Sheila and Ed are at their summer cottage, preparing to celebrate their 20th anniversary. They will be joined by Tom, Ed’s son from his first marriage (Sheila and Ed married after Ed’s first wife, Tom’s mother, died). Tom is bringing his girlfriend Annie along to meet the parents. Tom’s relationship with his father is frosty, but he has always gotten on well with his stepmother and he hopes she and Annie will get along.

Annie appears surprised to discover that Tom’s stepmother is one of her academic heroines, but as the weekend unfolds, it becomes increasingly unclear whether Annie’s presence at the house is a matter of fate, coincidence, or deliberate manipulation.

The unusual tension between Annie and Sheila is just one of the provocative plot twists in this adult-themed production. Chetkovich probes the nature of love, the spectre of lost love and the lengths to which we will go for love. Surprises abound as the four characters surface long-avoided questions that sometimes yield shocking answers.

West End Players’ veterans Renee Sevier-Monsey and Sean Ruprecht-Belt play Sheila and Ed. Macia Noorman and Joe Hosea make their WEPG debuts as Annie and Tom. Pauline Ashton is the assistant director and stage manager, Ken Clark designed the set, Tony Anselmo designed the lighting and Russ Bettlach costumed the show.

A St. Louis premiere!

Reviews

“Something old, something new? That’s a time-tested recipe.… Things take surprising turns … Noorman is especially effective as a young woman whose cool good looks mask steamy conflicts.” Judy Newmark, stltoday.com

“The less you know, the more intriguing the events will be…” Dennis Brown, Riverfront Times

“A smart little … comedy … with a lot of twists and turns.” Steve Allen, St. Louis Java Journal

Credits

Cast

Ed:
Sean Ruprecht-Belt
Sheila:
Renee Sevier-Monsey
Tom:
Joe Hosea
Annie:
Macia Noorman

Backstage

Director:
Robert Ashton
Stage Mgr. / Asst. Director:
Pauline Ashton
Graphic Design:
Marjorie Williamson