With “Don’t Dress for Dinner” on Nov. 14, 15, 17, 21, and 22 at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, the Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts (PAPA) will complete its 80th live presentation.
With “Don’t Dress for Dinner” on Nov. 14, 15, 17, 21, and 22 at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, the Plaza Alliance for the Performing Arts (PAPA) will complete its 80th live presentation.
“We are so grateful that PAPA has been able to overcome a few challenges over the years, changing venues quite often in the early years, needing directors, and securing rights for special productions,” PAPA Chair Dottie McClain said. “But here we are, still at our game: playing on stage. We are so grateful to the many people who have worked with us as actors, production crew – and sometimes as both.”
“Don’t Dress for Dinner,” directed by two of the longest-standing PAPA directors, Dennis McClain and Sarah Daly Weir, also features a veteran cast of several returning PAPA players, including Lou Benjamin, Michael Homeier, Beth Mappes, Michele Saarela, Dianne Shinneman, and Art Shutt.
“Don’t Dress for Dinner” by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon, premiered in 1987 in Paris. Originally written in French, it is an adaptation of a two-act play entitled “Pyjama Pour Six” by Camoletti, who also wrote “Boeing Boeing.”
Following a successful run in Paris of “Pyjama Pour Six,” the Englishspeaking rights were purchased by London producer Mark Furness, who commissioned playwright Robin Hawdon to adapt the play for Englishspeaking audiences. The English version opened in the West End at the Apollo Theatre in March 1991.
Reviewers described the play as “Hurling along at the speed of light, Marc Camoletti’s breathtaking farce is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention.”
Hawdon’s adaptation kept the French flavor in the English version, which explains its hint of pandering to chauvinism.
This version, which will be presented at The Plaza, has since played in theaters all over America and the English-speaking world. The New York Times reviewer wrote, “‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ does not mirror human folly in the manner of true farce, but, rather, extols pretense ...”
PAPA is thrilled to be putting on such a renowned play for Lake Country this November.
“There are our audiences, many of whom have been supporting us for years and rarely miss our performances,” McClain said. “Thank you all from our deepest being.”
“Don’t Dress For Dinner” will be performed on The Plaza stage on Nov. 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 7 p.m., with the Nov. 17 show scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
Tickets are on sale now at plazacenter.org or by calling The Plaza at 706-923-1655.