"As poor as the Malcolms are, Addie is stunned she did not know about the existence of this coin. In the process of figuring out the mystery, lives are changed and everyone learns that what is really important in life has nothing to do with riches."
"M*A*S*H*," by Tim Kelly, from the book by Richard Hooker, is another offering.
"This is a wild, free-flowing comedy," Logue explains. "'M*A*S*H*' stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and joining the ranks are two unpredictable madcap surgeons, Hawkeye and Duke. They are two of the most frustrating and best surgeons in South Korea, so they can't be taken lightly in spite of their shenanigans.
"(The play includes) a little war, a little drama, a lot of comedy and some romance - all reminiscent of the wonderful television series, with some names and characters changed as reflected in the original book by Richard Hooker."
Ken Ludwig's "Leading Ladies" also is slated for reading.
"In this hilarious comedy by the author of 'Lend Me a Tenor' and 'Moon Over Buffalo,' two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing 'Scenes from Shakespeare' at the local Moose Lodge in Amish Country in Pennsylvania. When they hear a rumor a very rich old woman from York, Penn., is about to die and leave her fortune to two long-lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as the beloved relatives. The trouble is, when they arrive in York, they find out the relatives aren't nephews, but nieces," Logue says.
"Panic and fun ensue from that point. This is a funny and sophisticated farce."
Mystery writer Agatha Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution" is a work that will intrigue many interested actors.
"Only the great Agatha Christie could have conceived such a suspenseful thriller and then cap it off with an uncanny, triple-flip ending," Logue explains. "A young married man spends many evenings with a rich old woman. When she is found murdered, the naive young man is the chief suspect. The testimony of his wife is expected to result in an acquittal, but she is a shrew who damages his case and all but gets him hung.
"Enter a mysterious woman with letters against the wife. The plot twists and turns and packs plenty of surprises along the way."
Logue adds the play was the winner of the New York Critics Circle Award, and was a "walloping success" on Broadway.
"Getting Mama Married," by Stephen Levi, will be an offering one of the evenings.
"When Ann Finnery's second husband left her five years ago for a younger woman, she swore off men forever. Instead of a man, she involves herself with house plants, bridge, puzzles and murder mysteries," Logue says. "Her daughter, Julie, plans to change all that for her mother and encourages her to date.
"First, there is Ed Finnery, her first husband, who she has not seen in 30 years and who's still as dumb as ever. Then enters Mr. Apollo, an amorous Greek mailman. Then, finally she dates her last former husband, whose younger woman winds up leaving him for a younger man."
Logue calls the play "a warm, loving comedy filled with funny situations and delightful characters."
An evening of vignettes
Frederick Stroppel's "Senior Moments" is on tap for Play Reading Week.
"An evening of five one-act plays, this compilation is both a delight and a challenge for mature actors," Logue explains. "From a couple running a Mom-and-Pop corner store, which happens to be a porno shop, to a park bench, the locale for discussions of literature, philosophy and squirrel-watching, and to a peek into the lives and male camaraderie of a local friendly tavern, this evening is sure to raise some eyebrows and give you some hearty laughs."
Prolific playwright Tina Howe's "Approaching Zanzibar" will be given a glance and a read.
"(The playwright) brings to the stage the outrageous Blossom family as they travel cross-country to see ... Olivia, who is ill and probably dying," Logue says. "Grandma Olivia is eccentric, at best. The family camps along the way, having various adventures and meetings with strangers.
