Mclean Community Players Presents "Comic Potential"

From McLean Community Players:

MCLEAN, VA - The McLean Community Players present Alan Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential, running October 7–22, 2016, in McLean’s Alden Theatre.

The McLean Community Players (MCP) present the area premiere of Alan Ayckbourn’s sci-fi romantic comedy, Comic Potential, opening October 7, 2016, in McLean’s Alden Theatre. Comic Potential is Ackbourn’s 52nd play and his second exploration into science fiction. Veteran director Bob Sams leads an award-winning cast and crew in bringing this production to the Alden stage. MCP’s production opens Friday, Oct. 7, and runs weekends through October 22, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and two Sunday matinees, October 9 and 16, at 2 p.m.

On one level, Comic Potential is a satire of the TV industry. It is set slightly in the future, when everything has changed except human nature. Actors in a popular soap opera have been replaced by “Actoids”-- android performers. During the taping of the show, one of the “Actoids” begins to show signs of creativity. Is it a fault in her programming or is she humanizing? A young writer begins to teach her comic timing and physical comedy. Can their budding relationship blossom into real love or is it doomed to melt down? On a deeper level, Comic Potential explores what makes us human and the nature of love.

Director Bob Sams says, “In Comic Potential, Sir Alan Ayckbourn presents us with a couple of very interesting questions: What makes Comedy (as opposed to just being funny)? What is love, and can restrictions be placed upon it? Can a human actually fall in love with an android and can an android actually experience love? When do artificial intelligence and humanity coincide? But the REAL point of the show is, “You call that comedy? Yeah, it’s funny. It’s REAL Funny, but it ain’t comedy! THIS IS COMEDY! WATCH! And Sir Alan serves up a double helping of comedy. This is a show that will make you hang on the edge of your seat wondering how the characters are going to escape ‘another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.’”

Alan Ayckbourn’s Comic Potential runs weekends, Oct. 7–22, at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, Va. Tickets are $18 to $20, and group rates are available. For more information, call 703-304-3176, or visit www.McLeanPlayers.org. Tickets are available at the Alden Box Office, through OvationTix at 1-866-811-4111 or at www.McLeanPlayers.org. Comic Potential is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Comic Potential contains adult language and situations and is most suitable for those seventeen and older.

The McLean Community Players, based in McLean, Va., celebrate both the musical and dramatic theater traditions. Producing four shows a year—two musicals and two plays—the McLean Community Players are committed to doing theater for the community, in the community, with the community, and sustained by the community.

Through a cooperative agreement with The Metropolitan Washington Ear, along with the support of the Alden Theatre, the performance on October 16 at 2:00 p.m. will be audio described for persons with vision challenges. The final evening performance on Saturday, Oct. 22, will offer American Sign Language interpretation by First Chair Interpreted Productions, LLC. for those in the Deaf community.

Comic Potential Creative Team

Producer ..................................................................................................................... Diane Sams

Director ....................................................................................................................... Robert Sams

Stage Manager .............................................................................................................. Karen Veltri

Assistant Stage Manager ....................................................................................... Shayne Gardner

Set Design ............................................................................................... Bob Sams, Diane Sams

Costume Design .............................................................................................. Juliana Cofrancesco

Set Design Consultant ..................................................................................... Juliana Cofrancesco

Construction Chief ............................................................................................ George Farnsworth

Set Painting ......................................................................................................... Adrienne Kammer

Lighting Design ......................................................................................................... Lynne Glikbarg

Props and Set Dressing.................................................................................................... Claire Tse

Publicity ............................................................................................................... Cathy Farnsworth

Set Construction ........................................................ Stephen Dennett, Bill Glikbarg, Bob Schroth

Comic Potential Cast

Carla ............................................................................................................................. Diane Sams

Jacie ............................................................................................................................. Caity Brown

Adam ............................................................................................................................. Scott Duvall

Prim............................................................................................................. Sam (Samantha) David

Trudi and others ............................................................................................................. Kirsten Burt

Chandler ...................................................................................................................... Frank Gorrell

Lester Trainsmith ............................................................................................................. Mike Scott

Ensemble ........................ Anne Hilleary, Emma Safford, Bridgette Saverine, Stephen T. Wheeler

Image via Pixabay.