Three actors, one bench; Monroe Community Players staging 'A Bench in the Sun' Jan. 27-29

Monroe Community Players is staging its first production of “A Bench in the Sun” later this month.

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Players’ space at the Mall of Monroe, 2121 N. Monroe St. Doors open a half-hour before each show. Attendees should enter the mall through the door by the old Carson Home Store. Tickets are on sale now for $15 each. For tickets, visit www.monroecommunityplayers.org.

“Bench in the Sun,” a play written by Ron Clark, has just three actors and one set piece.

“All the action takes place on and around the bench,” David P. Wahr said.

The show is set outside a retirement home.

“Harold and Burt are longtime friends living in a retirement home. They spend their days on a bench in the garden bickering. When a once-famous actress, Adrienne Bliss, moves in, tensions between the two rise,” the Players said. “But when this trio learns that the home is about to be sold and they will have to find a new residence, they join forces to prevent this upsetting development.”

Wahr plays Burt. Brian Burchette-Ross plays Harold, and Kathleen McBee is Adrienne.

Ron Roberts is making his directing debut in the show.

“Ron has been with the group quite a while and has been in several plays, most recently last year's ‘Twilight of the Gold's’ and ‘Doubt,’” Wahr said. “He has been an assistant director in the past.”

Roberts thinks audiences will enjoy the plot and the acting.

“I’m truly excited to work with such a talented trio of actors. They do an excellent job bringing their characters to life,” Roberts said. “The audience will love this show because it gets back to basics. A great story, driven by relatable characters. It allows us to do what we do best, tell a story, something that Players has been doing for the last 80 years.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe Community Players staging 'A Bench in the Sun' Jan. 27-29