Dinner and a pink T-bird a drive away By MURIEL J. SMITH Posted:03/08/10
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Monmouth County, NJ – Bayshore residents are in for a treat if they're looking for a short drive, an economic evening of dinner and entertainment, and great theater with a cast heading to New York by the end of the month.
"1959 Pink Thunderbird," a two act play written by James McLure and directed by R.J. Lamb, is on stage at the Theatre at Priedaine, on Highway 33, in Freehold this weekend, with performances Friday and Saturday evenings, March 12 and 13, and Sunday afternoon at 12:30.
"We chose the Priedaine Theater because it's a wonderful theater with all the trappings that make it special," said Lamb, who is an actor turned director. He should know. He's been directing for more than 20 years and he's been there before. He also first presented this play in Clarksburg 22 years ago and is founder of Nine Theatricals, the company presenting the play, which he describes as "a drama with lots of comedy." Nine Theatricals...called so simply because Lamb likes the number nine...focuses on professional actors pursuing life time careers on the stage, and complimenting community theaters in the area.
"1959 Pink Thunderbird" is actually two separate plays, Lamb explains, since each act could be presented on its own. "But it's so much more fun seeing the entire picture in one exciting evening or afternoon of entertainment," he said.
The play, in the first act, focuses on three women ten years after high school, sitting on a front porch in the tiny town of Maynard, TX, talking about how their lives didn't evolve exactly as they planned and what life has been like in the town of only a couple of hundred people. The second act focuses on three young men of the same era, one a Vietnam vet who owned the Pink T Bird, which he had worked and saved for in high school and what happened to it later. "It's a slice of small town life," Lamb explains, "with a lot of humor, especially in the second act from guys who haven't quite grown up."
Casting agents, directors, producers and others seeking out professional talent are expected to be in the audience, Lamb said, since the cast is primarily comprised of young actors looking to continue in the acting field professionally. After the three presentations at the Preidaine Theater, the play and cast head to the New York Producers Club where it will be presented at the end of March.
The Preidaine is the amphitheater of the NJ Latvian Society, with a balcony and loge seating for up to 1,000 guests. Besides the large stage, there are below stage green rooms, dressing rooms, showers for the cast, as well as a main lobby that provides an attractive entrance to a very unique theater. The Society also has spacious outdoor areas where Lamb has staged summer productions, and is hopeful of continuing this summer with a comedy, "Eat Your Heart Out,' featuring a cast of five. "It's a wonderful place and a great setting to do theater," Lamb said.
The director is a graduate of the Academy of Theatrical Arts and has performed on stage in both New Jersey and New York. He turned to directing in 1982, when he was a youth advisor at St. Rose of Lima Church and School in Freehold, and, as a means of involving as many teens as he could in a fun and learning activity, directed "Our Town," with a cast of 26 and another 30 or more teens working backstage and in all phases of production. That experience led to community members wanting to be involved, the growth of the St. Rose Players to the St. Rose Community Players, and then, 28 years ago next month, to the South Street Players, still one of the most popular community theater groups in the area. Lamb is now working on his 85th production with the Players and candidly admits, "we're a bit different, and we do stretch the envelope!"
Tickets for 1959 Pink Thunderbird are $30 per person, including both dinner and the show, and guests are invited to bring their own wine or alcoholic beverages to compliment the dinner. Reservations can be made by calling 732-447-5169 or 732-462-4329 or on line at ninetheatricals.com.
