When Deane Jones first read the play “Ripcord,” she knew it would be an audience-pleaser, she said.
“It has humor and drama. There’s something for everybody,” said Jones, who directs the play opening Oct. 8 and running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 24 at PM&L Theatre in Antioch.
“Ripcord” will mark the return to live theater for PM&L. Jones said the audience will not only be entertained by the comic scenes, but also by the special effects during a sky diving scene and a visit to a haunted house.
Showtimes are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.
Jones said the play features two female lead characters in their 70s. Jones herself is 84, and has been working with PM&L Theatre in many capacities for about five decades, she said.
“Ripcord” written by Tony-award winning David Lindsay-Abaire, was directed off Broadway in 2015 by David Hyde Pierce. The name of the play only becomes obvious after a certain scene late in the show, Jones said — and that’s all she’s saying about that.
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The playwright is known for writing serious as well as absurd comedic plays, and won a Pulitzer Prize in Drama for “Rabbit Hole.”
“Ripcord” centers around two ladies who share a room in a senior-living facility. “It’s about personal loss, relationships, and how people’s lives can change for the better,” Jones said.
In the play, Abby, portrayed by Dee Finley, has been at the senior facility for four years. She insists nothing can scare her and she tends to be crabby, Jones said. Marilyn, played by Paula Mantas, says nothing can make her angry. Adding to the conflict is that Marilyn wants the bed by the window, which Abby has always had.
“So they have all these silly little bets, some of which become more serious,” Jones said.
Both actresses had started rehearsing the show in 2020 before the pandemic closed the theater, and both were able to return and are relearning their lines, Jones said.
Other characters in the show include Marilyn’s daughter and son-in-law, a zombie, a lady in white, a masked man, a clown and a man named Ben — played by four more actors.
Jones chose the lead actresses based on their skills and personalities, she said. Mantas, who plays Marilyn, “is always cheerful,” Jones said. Finley, who portrays Abby, taught school for 30 years. “Working with kids all those years, she’s learned to be in charge,” Jones said. “She knows how to portray someone who’s not always warm and fuzzy.”
In the play, Marilyn attempts to scare Abby at a haunted house. “That scene has some nice special effects and lighting,” Jones said.
Abby attempts to anger Marilyn by ruining a puzzle she loves, among other antics.
“As the roommates get to know one another, something is revealed about Abby’s past and could explain her constant grumpiness,” Jones said. Marilyn invites a man named Ben to visit Abby, leading to a serious, poignant scene, Jones said.
Putting all the parts together with lighting, projections and some actresses playing more than one role “is complicated,” Jones admitted. “But they’re doing a very good job.”
Jones added, “I think a lot of people in the audience will be able to find someone in the play they identify with or circumstances they can identify with.”
Jones added the cast and crew are “working hard to make the theater safe. We’ve been working for a year to get things back in order and comply with COVID mandates. It will be a safe environment.”
Jones’ most recent directing credits at PM&L Theatre include “Calendar Girls” and “Young Frankenstein.”
‘Ripcord’
When: Oct. 8-24
Where: PM&L Theatre, 877 Main St., Antioch
Tickets: $10-$20
Information: 847-395-3055, pmltheatre.com
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.