The Drama Group in Chicago Heights continues its 90th anniversary season by celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Theatre Exchange Program with Stables Theatre in England.
According to Andrew White, a member of The Stables Trust Limited for 29 years, most people traveling for “Run for Your Wife” from June 10 to 19 at The Drama Group’s Milord Studio Theatre have never been on the exchange before.
“I think this is the first time that somebody who’s not actually involved in the production has done the organization,” said White who helped to coordinate aspects including transportation, flights and accommodations for the exchange between Stables Theatre and The Drama Group.
“Usually the organization has fallen to the director of the show but I was involved in organizing The Drama Group’s return to Hastings in 2019, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
“I felt that because directing a play is quite a challenge in itself it would be more suitable if someone else took responsibility for the organization of the trip.”
The May 6-14 production of “Run for Your Wife” that was directed by Lyndsey Meer at Stables Theatre & Arts Centre in Hastings, East Sussex, England, will be remounted with the same cast in Chicago Heights.
“Lyndsey is a relatively new director to Stables. She’s done some great productions there. She directed another comedy by the same playwright, Ray Cooney, that was very successful and highly acclaimed,” said White about Stables Theatre’s 2018 production of “It Runs in the Family.”
“I think it was the success of that that made me think ‘Run for Your Wife’ would be a good production to bring over for the exchange.”
Cooney’s comedy “Run for Your Wife” was first performed in 1982.
“It’s a classic British farce and it was very successful in the United Kingdom,” said White, who portrayed Stanley in Stables Theatre’s 1995 production of “Run for Your Wife.”
“It’s all about a taxi driver who intervenes in the city center. He becomes a bit of a local hero. He’s rather concerned about this because he’s married to two women who know nothing about each other. Of course the consequent publicity he’s going to get will reveal his deep secret.
“It’s a series of escapades about how he tries to keep the two wives separate and keep the press and the police away from finding out the truth. He involves the help of his neighbor Stanley in doing so.”
Glen Marks, Pauleen McLaughlin, Vivienne Pattison, Alan Haynes, Gavin Nevett, Dan Palmer and Richard Smith, who are all participating in the exchange for the first time, star in “Run for Your Wife.”
“The cast that are involved are all experienced actors and actresses. All of them portray good performances,” White said.
“The show moves at a terrific pace. It’s got a great array of characters. It’s very ingenious in the way it’s staged. I enjoyed watching it again a few weeks ago when Stables performed it. All around me people were laughing their heads off.
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“It’s a little bit dated but the audience we had thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m sure the audiences who see it in Chicago Heights will enjoy it too.”
The Theatre Exchange Program began in 1999 when The Drama Group performed “Spoon River Anthology” in Hastings. Stables Theatre then brought Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations” to Drama Group audiences in 2000.
The Drama Group last performed in Hastings in 2019 when the exchange featured John Bishop’s “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940? as part of Stables Theatre’s 60th anniversary celebration.
“The great thing about the exchange is that this is so unique,” said White, who was involved in exchange productions of Stables Theatre’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” in 2003, “The Mill on the Floss” in 2006 and “Taking Steps” in 2014.
“It’s the thrill and excitement of bringing a successful production over here to perform it in front of a completely different audience in Chicago Heights with different facilities and the enthusiastic responses we get, the friendships we form and the hospitality we receive from The Drama Group.”
“Run for Your Wife” in Chicago Heights includes Berwyn, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Frankfort, Homewood, New Lenox, Olympia Fields, Richton Park and Tinley Park residents on the production team and/or exchange program committee.
‘Run for Your Wife’
When: 7:30 p.m. June 10-11 and 16-18; 2 p.m. June 12 and 19
Where: The Drama Group’s Milord Studio Theatre, 330 W. 202nd St., Chicago Heights
Tickets: $23 adults; $21 ages 65 and older; $17 students
Information: 708-755-3444; dramagroup.org
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.