‘Run For Your Wife? brings laughs

Clarkston residents looking for a reason to laugh and beat the winter weather need look no further than Depot Theater.
The Clarkston Village Players will present the comedy “Run For Your Wife,” directed by Verne Vackaro and produced by Joanne Anderson, at the theater, located on 4861 White Lake Road.
The show is based on the British farce written by Ray Cooney. According to Vackaro, the show’s plot involves a taxi driver, John (Dean Vanderkolk) who tries to deal with having two wives, Mary (Nancy Penvose), who lives in Wimbledon, and Barbara (Rikki Schwartz) who lives in Streatham, by having an irregular work schedule. However, when John tries to stop a mugger and becomes a hero, his picture winds up in the newspaper and his struggle to keep his two marriages separate intensifies.
“We felt it was a good time to put on this show,” Vackaro said. “We like to do one good comedy a year, and this is a good British farce.”
Vackaro gave bios on each of the eight cast members:
n Vanderkolk started with the Clarkston Village Players as part of their Youth Theater program, and has been with the adult theater program for about 16 years. “He’s very popular with our audiences, and he can play a number of roles,” Vackaro said.
n Brian Taylor plays Stanley, John’s friend who tries to help him cover up his two marriages. According to Vackaro, this is Taylor’s first performance with the Clarkston Village Players in 12 years.
n Penvose came to CVP from England and has been with the group for about 10 years. “She’s probably one of our premier actresses,” Vackaro said.
n Schwartz has been with CVP for about six years, and directed their production of “Extremities” in January.
nRick Shaw plays a Wimbledon policeman. He has been with CVP for about six years and has a great deal of theater experience, according to Vackaro.
nAl Bartlett plays a Streatham policeman. A retired teacher, he has been with CVP for about 25 years.
nChris Stout plays Barbara’s gay neighbor, Bobby Franklin. This is his second play with CVP, and he will also be appearing in CVP’s next play, “Cover of Life,” scheduled to hit the Depot Theater in May.
n Robert Whiston, 20, appears in his first play for CVP as a reporter covering John’s heroic deed.
Opening night is Friday, at 8 p.m. Saturday’s show is also at 8 p.m. Next weekend, the show will be presented Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. The show’s run will conclude with performances Thursday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 21 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for the Thursday and Sunday shows, and $12 for the Friday and Saturday shows.

For tickets, call the Depot Theater’s ticket line at 248-625-8811 Village Players’ Web site is www.clarkstonvillageplayers.org.