PHS thespians perform Neil Simon's comedic 'Plaza Suite'

<p>The cast and crew of Petaluma High School's fall production of Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite" pulled off a grand opening night show of slapstick shenanigans and serious undertones, Thursday, launching a six-show run that continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, and Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Three first-time directors (Jessica Dennen, Act I, "Visitor from Mamaroneck;" Laura Stevic, Act II, "Visitor from Hollywood;" and Bob Kind, Act III , "Visitor from Forest Hills") stepped in with combined enthusiasm and dedication to support producer/second director Jonathan Knox bring live theater back to the school stage this season after fall production prospects had looked a little shaky.</p><p>With the monumental task of putting together a show in a few short weeks, the trio of intrepid directors led a remarkably compact cast of student actors in tackling substantial, grown-up comedic material cleverly molded in three acts from the end of an American era so completely alien to today's liberated young. </p><p>The Marvelous pairing of Maddie Jenson and Andy Doll opened Act I with a slowly explosive unfolding of a faded marriage as wedding anniversary room guests Karen and Sam Nash (the couple from Mamaroneck).</p><p>In Act II it would have been easy to say that the fabulous Casey Holmberg stole the show as Hollywood big-wig back East to oh-so-slyly take advantage of his former high school sweetheart, Yet the delightful Maddi Scarbrough balanced the spot-lit boards as his prey, the manipulated, man-handled Muriel Tate and the performance made for a raising of the bar to which each unique Act was more than able to uphold.</p><p>By the time Act III rolled around, the audience was in stitches at the hilarious scenario in suite 719 as Sierra Kind and Joe Kowalski completely commanded an extreme-stress-scenario in classic comedic spousal casting as parents of the bride who simply would not come out of the loo for her wedding. Considerably more statuesque than floor-pacing, hand-wringing, ledge-scaling, door-punching Roy Hubley ("Visitor from Forest Hills"), Kind was a visual hoot as hair-raising, panic-ridden co-parent, the glove-toting Norma Hubley.</p><p>Costumes (Heidi Kind and Erin Stoll) were spot-on for the '60s and the set, designed and constructed by Mike Long, Jeff Scarbrough, Bob Kind and Eric Schleth was compelling. </p><p>"Plaza Suite" takes place in Petaluma High School Multi Purpose Room, 201 Fair St., Petaluma. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.</p>