Comedy

HARRODSBURG - To open the holiday season, Ragged Edge Community Theater will present a comedy, "Greetings!" by Tom Dudzick. Director Gary McCormick describes the play as "a delightful comedy that makes each of us examine why we have faith - or lack of - and how that affects the way we live our lives. " "The playwright uses Christmas as the focal point to take inside the Gorsky family," he explains, "an Archie Bunker-type mom and dad, a rebellious son, his new fiance, and their very special son, Mickey, who is handicapped.

A sprinkle of soulfulness, a dash of poignancy, and more than a pinch of comedy are blended together for the final offering at Pioneer Playhouse, "Bay at the Moon. " Assistant director Elisa Abatsis says the show is "a play people can relate to. " It's a play about the relationship between family members, she notes. Adds director Holly Henson, "It's very unusual for a comedy to be about the passage of life. It's poignant, touching and real-life. ... It's a very soulful Southern comedy.

HARRODSBURG - Catherine Gilvin believes a lot of people focus on yesterday and tomorrow rather than seizing the day. That's part of why the director likes the atmosphere of "The Cemetery Club," which goes up Friday. "There are so many of us that live life looking behind and so many of us reaching for tomorrow that very few of us stop to concentrate on what is happening today," says Gilvin. "This play takes a comical slant and really makes the audience think about that without even realizing it. " "The Cemetery Club," by Ivan Menchell, is about three Jewish women - Ida, Lucille and Doris (Robin Dickerson, Pam Wheeler and Pat Perkins)

The often overwrought productions of Broadway garner the acclaim of critics and commentators, but outdoor theaters like Pioneer Playhouse have a simple charm that sticks to the character-driven spirit of drama. "Cookin' with Gus," the next production in the Playhouse's 2008 summer lineup, is the type of show that affirms the relevance of theater in an age when special-effects-driven voyeurism dominates the box office. "Sometimes on Broadway they get a little too caught up in flash," said "Cookin' with Gus" Director Lawrence Lesher.

What happens when a doctor catches a sea-maiden and brings her back to his apartment? Such is the scenario in “Miranda: The Catch of the Day,” which goes up this week at Pioneer Playhouse. Director Homer Tracy says the mermaid in question casts a spell on three different men in the play. The comedy is reminiscent of the popular movie “Splash,” except for the fact that the doctor who brings the mermaid home has a wife who is not terribly excited by her husband’s “surprise” guest.

A humorous switcheroo creates a comical chaos in Pioneer Playhouse's upcoming production of "Lend Me a Tenor," written by Ken Ludwig. The show is a fast-paced, well-known Broadway hit. Director Homer W. Tracy attended shows at the playhouse the past few years before agreeing to direct a play this summer. He called "Lend Me a Tenor" a wonderful comedy about an opera singer named Tito (Daniel Hall Kuhn) who gets in a bit of a spat with his wife (Patricia Hammond). Wound up and stressed out, he takes sleeping pills to get rest.

Members and friends of the Boyle County Republican party may make reservations for Thursday for the Pioneer Playhouse comedy "Social Security. " A reception begins at 7 p.m. and the play is at 8:30 p.m. For reservations, call Pioneer Playhouse at (859) 236-2747.

Sometimes when you need entertainment after a hard day, you don't want to do anything that requires hefty thinking - you just want to sit down and laugh at people doing ridiculous and silly things. If you happen to find yourself in such a mood, “Bottoms Up,” showing at Pioneer Playhouse through July 21, will hit the spot perfectly. “Bottoms Up” is a light-hearted, slapstick comedy that changes things up from the Playhouse's first two offerings this summer, which featured far more intellectual humor.

West T. Hill Community Theatre's annual Play Reading Week begins March 9 and runs through March 12. The readings are informal, and are chance for inexperienced actors to get their feet wet, and the for the theater personnel to gauge what offerings would be best for the upcoming season. Refreshments will be served at each set of readings. The plays set for Play Reading Week, with a synopsis for each one, are: "The Spring Cleaning," by Elizabeth Orndorff, is an original drama by local playwright Orndorff.

Laurie Eliscu had decided that her youngest child was old enough to handle her being away from home. So she decided she wanted to do some summerstock this year. "I had a friend who moved out west who said, 'Y'know, you should really take your talents outside of New York. The rest of the country would really appreciate (your skills),'" says Eliscu, who currently live in Hastings on Hudson, N.Y., a suburb in Westchester County. "There are so many actors, directors, designers tied together in New York.

A memorial comedy show celebrating the life of Danville native Holly Henson, and featuring nationally known comics Jim Wiggins and Bob Batch, will be held at 8 p.m. May 11 at the Pioneer Playhouse indoor stage. All proceeds from the event, which will include a silent auction and cash bar, will benefit “Stand Up 2 Cancer,” an organization that works to fund innovative cancer research and to give new therapy access to those who need it now. Henson, who died after a long battle with breast cancer on May 27, 2012, was both artistic director of Pioneer Playhouse and a successful stand-up comic.

Sometimes when you need entertainment after a hard day, you don't want to do anything that requires hefty thinking - you just want to sit down and laugh at people doing ridiculous and silly things. If you happen to find yourself in such a mood, “Bottoms Up,” showing at Pioneer Playhouse through July 21, will hit the spot perfectly. “Bottoms Up” is a light-hearted, slapstick comedy that changes things up from the Playhouse's first two offerings this summer, which featured far more intellectual humor.

Happy-go-lucky Zumba instructor June (Kimberly Shepherd) gets a number of surprises while on holiday in the Caribbean in Pioneer Playhouse's upcoming production of “Bottoms Up!” Director Robby Henson said “Bottoms Up!” is the second reprisal at the playhouse this season. The first was “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” Both shows were performed more than 10 years ago. “Both were plays that stuck in our memory for different reasons,” Henson explained. “'Picasso at the Lapine Agile' was chosen because it presented challenging ideas and played to the head.

Last Thursday's East Jessamine versus West Jessamine baseball game was a comedy of errors - 15 total errors between the two teams - but not even the Colts were laughing as they came away with the 8-5 win. “Every time we play East, we always expect them to give it everything they've got; we're always going to give it everything we've got,” West Jessamine coach Jody Hamilton said. “It may not be pretty on either end, just like this one. I don't think it was too pretty for them, and I definitely don't think it was pretty on our end.” The Jaguars, who have struggled to find consistency this season, led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

An event that last year began as a dinner show has evolved into a performance happening this year. Tickled Pink, presented by the Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation, is a breast cancer awareness event, according to Carrie Truitt, grant and development analyst for the foundation. “We are just trying to generate awareness for breast cancer,” Truitt said, “and that ... early detection is the best prevention.” Truitt said last year's event was presented by the marketing department.

Retired teacher Billy Goldsmith, 51, used to tell his students to take their test the way they use the bathroom - use your own paper and don't look at your neighbor. But he admits to audiences at standup comedy shows that he used to take tests like an Oakland Raider - if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. After about a year of performing, the Boyle County High School assistant football coach tested his comedic chops at Comedy Off Broadway's open mic competition this summer in Lexington and finished in the top 10 in a field of about 65 amateurs.

Sean Smith wasn't performing comedy when he was a student at Centre College. That came after his graduation in 2004. At Centre, he was studying anthropology and sociology, hosting talent shows and date auctions, and giving speeches. Smith is the featured act Thursday at the Comedy at Mallard's event, which marks the first anniversary of comedy gigs at the Danville restaurant. Comedy Caravan brings in the performers from all over the country. Gregory Hoskins, owner of Mallard's at 1001 Ben Ali Drive, said Tom Sobel of Comedy Caravan approached him about bringing comedy acts to Danville.

The longest-running Broadway comedy in New York currently will make its Kentucky debut this week at Pioneer Playhouse. For many, it will be their first chance to see what director Robby Henson calls “an awesome play.” “It’s not a play — it’s an event. ... ‘The 39 Steps’ has mystery, scares, laughter, great costumes, a great soundtrack, fog — and the guy gets the girl. So what’s not to like?” Henson says, adding the play is “a comedy with thriller overtones.”  “It's 50 percent Hitchcock and 50 percent Monty Python,” he says.

Comedy Caravan performers Mark Klein and Mack Dryden will perform a comedy show at 8 p.m. today at Mallard’s. Comedy Caravan began working with Mallard’s last September. Many of the nationally-touring comedians appear at Louisville’s Comedy Caravan and at Comedy off Broadway in Lexington. Tom Sobel of  Comedy Caravan said many of the previous shows in Danville have been fundraising events. He added he hopes to keep a steady stream of nationally-touring comedians coming to Danville.

West T. Hill Community Theatre’s annual Play Reading week will be March 6-9. The four-day event is an opportunity for the community to read excerpts of the plays the theater’s personnel are considering for the 2011-2012 season. The readings will be held in West’s Wing on North Third Street. The Sunday session begins at 2:30 p.m.; the weekday sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. West T. Hill Community Theatre Managing Director Karen L. Logue said there isn’t a common thread quilting together the plays that will be read this year.