Nuptial comedy to close players workshop season

BURLINGTON - Players Workshop will close their 2018-19 regular season with comedian Lewis Black's rollicking comedy One Slight Hitch on April 26-28 and May 2-5 at the Workshop at 1431 Grove St.

In the play, it is 1981, and the 'storybook wedding” of Courtney and Harper, perfectly planned by her mother Delia, is upon us - the dress is perfect, the flowers are perfect, the music is perfect, and the couple is perfectly perfect - then the doorbell rings and, well, so much for perfect, because there is suddenly 'one slight hitch!”

The cast is composed of Gene Anderson, who plays Doc Coleman, the rock solid, charming father of the bride; the mother of the bride, the constantly panicked Delia Coleman, is portrayed by Anna Short. The Coleman daughters are the bride Courtney, an 'almost successful” novelist, played by Kathleen Kelly; Melanie, a slightly psychotic nurse, played by JoJo Johnson; and teenage, 'free spirit” PB, played by Kelsey Bush. Rounding out the cast are Ryan Cook as Courtney's old 'friend” Ryan, and Wade O'Neal as Harper, the perfect groom.

For those familiar with Lewis Black as the somewhat cantankerous comedian from shows like Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show” and his HBO comedy specials, Black began his comedic career as a playwright before becoming a stand-up comic; One Slight Hitch was the last play he wrote before his second career took off; hence, the play is definitely of the Reagan era, and, although one might expect the play to have the grumpy nature Black exhibits as a comedian, it is more in the vein of Neil Simon's comedies, but with more elements of farce, in addition to being a comedy with a heart.

The show is under the direction of Paul Elledge, with Bill Ell producing, and is being presented with permission of Dramatists Play Service.

All shows are at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of 2 p.m. matinees on April 28 and May 5. For more information call the Workshop at 319-753-6623.