The Scene on Stage: May features two shows posted on 05/01/2022
Justin Lazenby, director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater
Company’s (NNB) May production of “The Dining Room,” once acted in a production
of the comedy during his college years. The play is set in the dining room of a
house over the course of many years, with a cast of six playing 50 different
characters.
“When I was in it, it was fun for that aspect,” Lazenby
said. “You just got to shuffle the cards of all the human interactions that any
one person might have encountered in their life.”
Those human interactions include scenes such as Thanksgiving
with an aging grandmother, a birthday party with small children, adult children
fighting over the house's furnishings and older children needing to live at
home again.
Lazenby noted that the scenes organically flow from one to another
with quick exits and entrances and is a “peppering of 30 different messages” in
an array of different stories.
“It’s one of those shows that has a little something for
everyone, which I really like,” he said.
And while the play offers a lot of humor, it also has some
meaningful moments that will touch the audience.
“It’s funny, but at the same time there’s a lot of life in
there,” Lazenby said, noting that the production is appropriate for all ages.
“The comedy comes from having to deal with life, with hard decisions.”
NNB presents “The Dining Room,” by A. R. Gurney, from
Friday, May 20 through Sunday, June 5, at the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange
Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m.
on Sundays.
Ticket prices are $12-15, with group discounts available.
For more information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.
More comedy in Sandy
Sandy Actors Theatre’s May production is the comedy “Welcome
to Paradise,” by Julie Marino, offering the story of Evelyn, who takes what
might be her final trip to her Caribbean beach house but those around her have
other ideas.
The production will run from Friday, May 6 through Sunday,
May 29, at 17433 SE Meinig Avenue in Sandy (behind Ace Hardware). Show times
are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $18
for adults, $15 for senior citizens, veterans, and students and $13 for
children (reservations are recommended). For more information, or to make
reservations call 503-936-4378 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.
A preview night will also be offered at 7 p.m. Thursday, May
5, preceded by the Wy’ East Artisans Guild’s art gallery presentation
“Relationships.” Tickets for the preview are $10 and only available at the
door.
By Garth Guibord/MT | 
