Don't  Dress  for  Dinner  Was  a  Racy,
Raunchy, and Utterly Hilarious Romp

There's an old saying that goes, "When the cat's away, the mice will play"; and, essentially, that's the premise behind Don't Dress for Dinner, a funny, farcical play adapted by Robin Hawdon from the work of Swiss-born French playwright Marc Camoletti. The only problem with that premise is that, in this case, the "cat" doesn't actually go away as planned, and chaos ensues.

In the world of this play, put on Jan. 20-28 by the Towne Players of Garner and directed by Beth Honeycutt, the "cat" is Jacqueline (Olivia Ashley). She's planning to visit her mother; and her husband, Bernard (Dan Bain), is planning some secret alone time with his lover, Suzanne (Meg Dietrich). But, when Jacqueline learns that Bernard's friend Robert (Greg Flowers) will be in town, she decides to stay put. See, Robert is her on-the-side lover. And, if you're confused, don't worry, that's kind of the point.

Bernard begs Robert to pretend Suzanne is his lover ... only Robert mistakes that the hired cook, Suzette (Brenna Smith), for Suzanne; and Suzanne and Suzette are forced to pretend to be each other for the night. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds; but luckily, it's also hilarious, thanks largely to the strong cast and staging.

Olivia Ashley plays her role as funny, breathy, and surprisingly sensual, whereas Dan Bain convincingly plays the more sensible straight man character. Meanwhile, Greg Flowers creates a Robert that is appropriately puttering and befuddled; and Brenna Smith's Suzette is believably sweet and scheming all at the same time. Meanwhile, Meg Dietrich and, in the second act, Ethan Carpenter as George add their own hilarious styles to the comedic fun.

This racy, raunchy romp plays out on a cute country house set that's complete with rustic brick walls and charming paintings. It's also strengthened by Beth Honeycutt's crisp direction, which displays itself through smooth blocking, well-prepped physical comedy, and a nice, natural sense of movement throughout. And, as the night wears on and the characters get progressively drunker, Robin Hawdon's script and the stellar sound quality help keep the rapidly changing story surprisingly clear and easy to follow.

Ultimately, this production was a laugh-a-minute riot and a real treat for viewers. It was a perfect testament to the unique charm and sheer joy of well-done community theater. Plus, it all takes place at the Garner Performing Arts Center, a delightful venue with spacious seating and vintage style. And, while this particular show may have reached the end of its run, it's a shining example of what the Towne Players of Garner can do.

Marc Camoletti's DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER (In Person on Jan. 20, 21, 27, and 28), adapted by Robin Hawdon, directed by Beth Honeycutt, and starring Dan Bain as Bernard, Olivia Ashley as Jacqueline, Greg Flowers as Robert, Brenna Smith as Suzette, Meg Dietrich as Suzanne, and Ethan Carpenter as George (Towne Players of Garner in the Garner Performing Arts Center in Garner). VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-yIT-KaZLnadPz5dT9TCg. 2022-23 SEASON: https://www.towneplayers.org/upcoming-shows. THE PRESENTER: https://www.towneplayers.org/, https://www.facebook.com/TownePlayersofGarner, https://www.instagram.com/towneplayers/, https://twitter.com/towneplayers, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL-yIT-KaZLnadPz5dT9TCg. THE VENUE: https://www.garnernc.gov/departments/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources/garner-performing-arts-center-1747, https://www.facebook.com/GarnerPerformingArtsCenter/, and https://www.instagram.com/gpacgarner. DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER (1991 West End and 2012 Broadway "boulevard comedy"): https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/1252/dont-dress-for-dinner, https://robinhawdon.com/robin-hawdon-plays/dont-dress-for-dinner/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/dont-dress-for-dinner-491119, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Dress_for_Dinner. MARC CAMOLETTI (Swiss-born French playwright, 1923-2003): https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/1064/marc-camoletti, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/marc-camoletti-7490, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0131942/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Dress_for_Dinner. INFORMATION: 919-779-6144 or ascotthoneycutt@aol.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Towne Players of Garner. [RUN HAS CONCLUDED.]

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