Red Barn opens season with 'Exit Laughing'

Louise Carroll
Updated ·3 min read

FRANKLIN TWP. — On Friday, the Red Barn Players open their season with "Exit Laughing," a bittersweet comedy that lives up to its title.

Director Shelly Cary said it is the story of lifelong friendships, the laughs and tears they have shared and when one of them passes they are there for each other.

Cary said she saw "Exit Laughing," written by Paul Elliott, in 2006 at the Bobcat Players and loved it.

"This play has three major roles for more mature females and it is difficult to find a play with major roles for that age group," she said.

The mature females filling the roles are Susan Brown, Susan Allardice and Sue Ann Aiken.

'Exit Laughing' will be performed by the Red Barn Players starting June 2. Cast members pictured include (in front) Eli Peel, (seated, left to right) Julianna Mistovich, Susan Brown, Susan Allardice and Sue Ann Aiken.
'Exit Laughing' will be performed by the Red Barn Players starting June 2. Cast members pictured include (in front) Eli Peel, (seated, left to right) Julianna Mistovich, Susan Brown, Susan Allardice and Sue Ann Aiken.

Joining the cast are two young veteran actors, Julianna Mistovich and Eli Peel, who are making their first appearances at the Red Barn Theatre.

Mistovich, 21, of Cranberry Township began doing theater in Pittsburgh when she was in elementary school.

She sings, dances and acts and said although she likes singing best, she loves all aspects of being on stage.

Encouraged by her friend Betsy Barenson, who often does costumes for the Red Barn, Misovich auditioned for two roles and got them both. She is excited to be playing Rachel Ann, who is also 21, and in September she will be playing Elaine in "Arsenic and Old Lace."

"Rachel Ann is a college student who has issues with life and men and I can identify with her lot ― when I was in high school. I love my part. It is funny and I get to indulge myself in a dramatic role," Mistovich said. "Through her mother and her mother's friends, she get a new perspective, it changes her outlook.

"I have always heard great things about the Red Barn. People talk lovingly about their experiences there and I'm grateful to be a part of that," she continued.

Peel of Seven Fields, who is a singer, dancer and actor, made his first stage appearance when he was in the fourth grade.

"That was 10 years ago and I liked it from the first time. I enjoyed the escapism of it, being another person for a short time," he said.

When Peel was younger, he did a lot of happy-ever-after roles but now that he is older he can do more dark and serious roles.

Peel's role is Bobby, a financially struggling college kid trying to get into a Ph.D. program in psychology. Unfortunately, he can't afford it so he has been saving up money by working as a stripper.

"He's not proud of the stripping part, but he loves to dance and just pretends he's dancing by himself. The good part about my role is that I get to play a total goofball. The challenging part is I come in with a bang near the end of Act One and I remain on stage till the end. Once I'm on, I'm on," Peel said.

In his freshman year at Wright University concentrating on musical theater, Peel believes musical theater will be his career.

"Exit Laughing" is about what happens when four women who have been playing bridge every week for 30 years and one of the foursome inconveniently dies.

"The audience is going to like this show. It's about lifelong friendship, a little tug at the heartstrings and a lot of laughs," Cary said.

What: 'Exit Laughing'

Where: Red Barn Theatre, 1279 Route 288, Franklin Township

When: 8 p.m. June 2, 3,  8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17

Admission: $13

Reservations: http://www.RedBarnPlayers.com

Customer Service: 724-452-8082

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Red Barn Players open season with 'Exit Laughing'