"Wit, hijinx, and romance abound" in the new play "set after-hours in a hometown public library," according to the announcement. "Love develops across the counter between Sandy, the irreverent assistant librarian, and Milt, an unemployed library regular. Their unconventional courtship is repeatedly interrupted by inept gunmen, common bibliophiles, and Sandy's tyrannical boss, Marjory. The head librarian struggles to instill order, but chaos ensues as Sandy and Milt stagger towards a Hepburn-Tracy style romance."
Performances began May 27.
The cast includes Katie Honaker as Sandy and Matthew R. Wilson as Milt. Marjory is played by Catherine Rogers and Sara Montgomery is dutiful library assistant Estella. Kevin T. Collins appears as Steve, a Junior College bookie, and Ian Campbell as juvenile delinquent Pete.
Dyana Kimball, founder and artistic director of Boston Directors' Lab, directs.
Designers are Shawn Motley (set), Gia Lam (costume) and Brad Strickler (lighting). Playwright Cohen's work has been seen at the Producer's Club, The Riant Theatre's Strawberry Play Festival, Schapiro Theatre, and the Theatre-Studio, Inc. A one-act version of Library Play enjoyed an extended run in July 2003 at TSI before being workshopped into its current full-length form. Cohen's Between You & Me will be produced at the Producer’s Club Grand Theatre in June and is being published in an upcoming anthology edited by Van Dirk Fisher.
Library Play is the debut production of Faction of Fools, a not-for-profit corporation created in the spring of 2004 by artistic director Ian Oldaker, executive director Matthew R. Wilson, and literary director Paul Cohen.
"Faction of Fools is dedicated to cultivating a new generation of theatre professionals by developing and encouraging emerging artists on and off stage, increasing the opportunities of physical theatre (including clown and commedia dell'arte), and providing education and outreach to a younger audience and future Faction members," according to the troupe.
Performances play Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 8 PM, and Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM. The John Houseman Theatre is located at 450 W. 42nd Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues.
Tickets are $15. For more information, call (718) 777 8050 or visit www.factionoffools.org and www.smarttix.com.
