On Stage: Two comedies, including 'Yes Virginia,' opening this weekend
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The weekend starts with a bang with two comedies opening on Friday.
The Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg opens the community theater premiere of “Yes, Virginia” on Friday. The two-person show is a heartfelt comedy as the lives of an employer and employee take on a new meaning.
The laughs keep coming in “Unnecessary Farce” opening Friday at the IceHouse Theatre in Mount Dora when a police stake-out turns into mass confusion and laughs.
Also on stage this week is an Elton John tribute show, a “Happy Days” reunion as Donny Most and Misty Rowe sing songs from the 1950s and The Mother Goose Murders murder mystery dinner show in Tavares.
More theater news: On Stage: Regional premiere of 'Yes, Virginia' explores true friendship
In the news this week: COVID-19 in Lake, Sumter: Cases rising in schools, community amid omicron surge
Here’s a look at live performances this weekend.
“Yes, Virginia”
The Melon Patch Players in Leesburg present the community theater debut of “Yes, Virginia” opening Friday and playing until Jan. 30.
The play is set on New Year’s Eve when the longtime housekeeper, who had been let go months earlier, shows up for work not remembering she was no longer employed. She said she had been hurt and the employer and employee discover they have an incredible friendship and the relationship takes on a new relevance.
The author, Stan Zimmerman, said the play is loosely based on an experience he had with his mother when she was in early dementia and they were trying to get her into assisted living. His mother suggested they employ their Black housekeeper to live with her, not realizing the housekeeper had died years ago.
“I’ve been able to process life though my work and I’m very fortunate I get to do that and make a living at the same time,” Zimmerman said.
“It’s a mixture of comedy and real subject matter,” he added. “At the end of the day, you want it to be funny and tell a story. It’s very heartfelt and emotional. I can’t wait for the people of Leesburg to experience this play and these two women – it’ s like you’re in the living room with them.”
In the play, Virginia is played by Ze Carter and Denise is played by Nancy Sievert.
Details at melonpatchplayers.org.
“Unnecessary Farce”
It’s on-stage hilarity in the IceHouse Theatre’s production of “Unnecessary Farce” opening Friday and playing until Feb. 6 in Mount Dora.
In the play, two rookie cops set up a stake-out in a cheap motel to snare an embezzling small-town mayor in his videotaped guilty deeds. When the camera catches a bit of unrehearsed hanky-panky and a kilt-wearing, bagpipe-wielding, crazed hit-man stumbles into the fray and comic pandemonium breaks loose.
Details: icehousetheatre.com.
Together Again: A “Happy Days” reunion
Donny Most, beloved star of the long-running television series, “Happy Days” and Misty Rowe of “Hee Haw” and “Happy Days” are Together Again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Clermont Performing Arts Center. Singing the songs of Sinatra, Bobby Darin and more, Most and Rowe keep you coming back for more with their incredible voices and showmanship.
Tickets are $20-$32 at clermontperformingarts.com.
I’m Still Standing tribute show
Dwight Icenhower presents an Elton John tribute, I’m Still Standing, 7 p.m. Friday at the Living Dram Theatre in Eustis.
Tickets are $17-20 at livingdramatheatre.com.
The Mother Goose Murder
Join a gaggle of Mother Goose characters for a dinner and murder mystery show at Fish Camp Restaurant in Tavares at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Tickets are $42 at somethingnewstudiofl.com.
Auditions
Melon Patch
Auditions for “Chess” are 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg. Show dates are March 18-April 3.
Details at melonpatchplayers.org.
Coming attractions
“Ain’t Misbehavin”
The Bay Street Players present the three-time Tony Award winning musical revue, “Ain’t Misbehavin” which plays Jan. 20-30.
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” is one of the most dynamic musical reviews of all time with classic Fats Waller songs exemplary of the so called Harlem Renaissance,” said Bay Street Artistic Director Carlos Francisco Asse. “It is an audience pleaser that is so much fun. You’ll be clapping and jumping out of your seat.”
For tickets and information, go to eustisstatetheatre.org.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: On Stage in Lake County: Comedies, an Elton John tribute, auditions
