These plays are worth the trip(le)

By Breeana Laughlin

For the TODAY

Feeling deprived of the arts? It could be time to treat yourself to a binge-worthy triple-play coming to the Newport Performing Arts Center on Fridays and Saturdays for the first three weekends in April, beginning this Friday, April 1.

The Spring Comedy Triple-Play will feature a different production each weekend, live on stage in readers' theater format: “4,000 Miles,” “Prelude to a Kiss” and “Fuddy Meers.”

The Red Octopus Theatre Company is hosting the fundraiser to help bring the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts capital campaign across the finish line.

“We want everyone to have a good time. Everyone — the actors, the directors, the ushers and the audience members,” said Cody Larsen, who is directing “Fuddy Meers.” “We all need this and if we can fill that room with laughter again it will all be worth it.”

While the shows are all in the very broad genre of comedy, that’s about where their similarities end. First up is Amy Herzog’s moving comedy, “4,000 Miles” on April 1 and 2.

“4,000 miles is a heartfelt comedy that takes place between a grandmother and her grandson–and it is uplifting,” said Darcy Lawrence, who sits on the board of both the Oregon Coast Council of Arts and Red Octopus Theatre Company.

That’s followed by Craig Lucas’ enchanting comedy, “Prelude to a Kiss” on April 8 and 9.

“’Prelude to a Kiss’ is kind of a dark comedy and has a fantasy quality,” Lawrence said.

Wrapping up the series is David Lindsay Abaire’s side-splitting comedy, “Fuddy Meers” on April 15 and 16.

“At the end you will be laughing out loud wondering what the heck is happening,” Lawrence said. “There are all these zany characters and hilarious circumstances.”

Larsen was hooked on the screenplay for Fuddy Meers after reading it.

“It's a little heavy and a lot funny,” he said. “The playwright doesn't shy away from some darker subjects like domestic abuse but treats them in a cathartic way that leaves you feeling like the heroine has conquered some of her demons — at least for today.”

These productions are not what organizers would consider to be "family-friendly" fare and are likely most appropriate for audiences ages 15 plus.

Red Octopus board members chose to present these shows as staged readings, which can be rehearsed and produced much faster than a full-scale production. The format choice came after their original spring show, “I Hate Hamlet” was scrapped due to the Omicron surge.

“Our actors are holding scripts. But they have been rehearsed and they are acting their hearts out,” Lawrence said. “You will leave feeling like you just saw the show.”

Audience members no longer need to bring a vaccination card or negative COVID test but they will be required to wear a mask throughout the show and an empty buffer seat will be kept between parties.

Funds raised by the production will be used to complete the final phase of renovations to the David Ogden Stiers Studio Theatre and backstage areas of the PAC. Due to COVID-related delays and increased costs, the campaign came up just short of the amount needed to finish the work.

Lawrence said a lot of arts organizations have struggled and even gone under during the pandemic but Red Octopus was able to survive — in large part due to its local venue.

“The arts organizations around here did just fine because we have a really low overhead,” she said. “We all work out of the PAC and the PAC is the reason that we all weathered the storm of COVID. We feel it's important to try to help with the final phase of the campaign. It is going to increase the amount of dressing areas we have and it's going to increase our ability to present more shows — and more shows at the same time. So it's going to be good for us and good for the community.”

Lawrence encourages those who are interested to purchase the Triple-Play Pack: all three plays for the price of two.

“These plays really run the gamut,” she said. “I suggest people get that Triple-Play Pack so they can see all three and really get that experience of attending shows that a lot of folks around here haven't seen or maybe even heard of.”

Spring Comedy Triple-Play shows begin at 7 pm at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W Olive Street. Tickets are $25 each, or $50 for the Triple-Play Pack. For tickets and more information, go to www.coastarts.org/events or call 541-265-ARTS. For more information about Red Octopus Theatre Company, go to OctopusOnStage.com.