Russell Community Theater
RUSSELL — After a year-long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RCT will present its 100th production, "Living Together," Nov. 2 to 6.
RCT presented its first production, "God’s Favorite," in 1986 and 98 comedies, musicals, dramas, and mysteries followed over the next three decades. "Living Together," originally scheduled as the final show of the 2020 season, welcomes patrons back to the RCT Playhouse and the world of live theater this November.
"Living Together" is one of three plays by Alan Ayckbourn collectively called "The Norman Conquests." RCT presented "Table Manners" in 1990 and "Round and Round the Garden" in 2002. The plays are at times wildly comic, and at times poignant, in their portrayals of the relationships among the six characters: Norman and his wife Ruth (Bob Roe and Sheryl Krug); Ruth’s brother Reg and his wife Sarah (Kiefer Craig and Monica Harrison); Ruth’s sister Annie (Teressa Roe); and Annie’s next-door-neighbor Tom (Alan Templeton).
In "The Norman Conquests", Annie lives in a countryside house taking care of her demanding mother, and has decided she needs a weekend off. Reg and Sarah have agreed to come and take care of Annie’s and Reg’s mother for a weekend while Annie goes on a short trip. However, Annie is secretly planning to meet up with her sister Ruth’s charming, rakish husband Norman for an illicit weekend together (something Annie has never done before, and is unsure about). However, things go wrong when Norman shows up at the house early to pick up Annie contrary to plan, and everybody ends up at the house for the entire weekend. Various arguments ensue while the characters have differing degrees of understanding about what’s actually happening.
The action in "Table Manners" was played in the kitchen while "Round and Round the Garden" was set in the garden. "Living Together" is played in the middle of it all, with entrances to the garden, the front yard, the kitchen and the rest of the house.
Carol Dawson, one of the original RCT members and founders, directed "Table Manners" and "Round and Round the Garden." Crystal Craig, veteran RCT volunteer, is directing "Living Together," and credits Dawson as an honorary director of the 100th RCT production.
“Live theater requires flexibility, cooperation, creativity and compromise under the best of circumstances,” said Craig. “With the pandemic, RCT’s resilience has been put to the test, but we’re proud to say we’re ready to hit the stage once again.”
Performances run Tuesday through Saturday, Nov. 2 to 6, at the RCT Playhouse (Fifth and Kansas, Russell). Show time is 8:00 pm. Admission is $12 or by season ticket.
"Living Together" is written by Alan Ackybourn and presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
For more information, call 785-483-4057. Please find us on Facebook.
Russell Community Theater is a nonprofit theater company in Russell, Kansas. The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and the surrounding area. Completely volunteer-driven, RCT is supported financially solely through ticket admissions and gifts from those supportive of community theater.