Watch Silver Players strike comedy gold Gold News

The ensemble solid of “Senior Moments” carry out “Greased Lightning” all over Thursday’s get dressed practice session. The Stage Left Silver Players (ages 55 and up) are bringing their power, humor, and existence revel in to the level on Saturday and Sunday on the Trinity Playhouse situated at 234 E. Lincoln Way in Lisbon. (Photo through Stephanie Elverd)

LISBON — You can’t educate an previous canine new methods, however that doesn’t imply previous canine don’t have a couple of methods left up their sleeves. Those methods — together with a sexy convincing Tom Jones affect — will likely be showcased Saturday and Sunday on the Trinity Playhouse when the Silver Players take the level.

“Senior Moments,” a play written and directed through Kandace Cleland, will take the target audience on a journey of quick comedy skits and musical numbers that poke a laugh at ageing whilst proving “over-the-hill” isn’t synonymous with “out to pasture.”

For Cleland, the manager director of the Stage Left Center for the Arts which calls the theater (transformed from a ancient church) house, “Senior Moments” used to be rather actually years within the making. In her thirty second season on the playhouse, Cleland discovered herself in an age staff the place starring roles are scarce. Instead of attempting to find subject material for performers 55 and older, Cleland took issues into her personal fingers and wrote it.

“When it comes to the senior group, there are just not a lot of roles out there other than ‘Driving Miss Daisy.’ It’s a great role but you can only do it so many times,” Cleland mentioned. “So I mainly took the ‘if-you-build-it-they-will come” approach. And they did. Seventeen very talented people responded. Some are well-seasoned who have been in or around community theater all their life and a few are newcomers who haven’t been on level earlier than. For me, it’s simply been a in point of fact wonderful procedure, observing all of it come in combination.”

Cleland have been kicking across the thought for a play focused round older performers for some time. Eventually, she sat down and hammered it out. The play is a sequence of quick sketches and track highest described as “golden oldies” — the soundtracks of sock hops, soulful seventies and the entirety in between. “Senior Moments” is a methodical mashup of jokes, a bit of of slapstick and fittingly new takes on previous numbers.

“I wanted to keep the skits short. There aren’t 40-pages of dialogue to memorize. I read a lot of jokes and incorporated those jokes into funny skits. I did take a few Broadway standards and gave them a twist,” Cleland mentioned. “And other people added things. Robin Tener reinvented ’16 going on 17′ from the Sound of Music into a ’60 going on 70′ parody. It truly was a creative collaboration.”

The hobby wasn’t restricted to only the forged. Both presentations bought out on-line. Cleland made room through transferring the Silver Pit Band out of the pit and including extra seats. Limited tickets stay however will likely be bought on a primary come-first served foundation. Doors open on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. The Silver Players take the level at 7 p.m. Sunday’s doorways open at 1:15 p.m. with showtime set for two p.m. Cleland mentioned they’re going to attempt to “plunk people down anywhere we can,” however inspired the ones in need of to look the display to come back early.

“Never in my life did I expect this kind of response. We wanted to put on a show that was fun and full of joy, but I wasn’t sure that there would be an audience and whether we could get anybody else besides our grandchildren to see the show,” Cleland mentioned. “But the reception has been nothing short of incredible. Now, we are planning on doing it again next season.”

There also are plans to take the display at the street. Cleland envisions a shortened touring model of “Senior Moments.” The layout of the play is best for a reboot. Sketches might be plucked out and carried out at senior facilities and retirement communities.

“It would be wonderful to bring it to people who can’t get out to the playhouse and to places that could appreciate the joy and fun and relate,” Cleland mentioned. “Obviously, that would take commitment and rely on the leadership in this group. But I think that’s something wonderful that could be possible down the road. I believe it’s something we can do.”

Cleland additionally thinks the Silver Players make for comedy gold if now not one thing magical. There’s one thing to be mentioned for revel in. Even the ones performers who will make their theatrical debut this weekend have a definite wit that most effective comes with white hair, a moxy this is most effective fostered through a long time and comedic timing this is most effective practiced to perfection from an entire life of studying to snort at your self.

“The people playing these characters are characters themselves, off stage and in their lives,” Cleland mentioned. “It really is a talented group. The oldest is 83 and I think the youngest is 57. It has been amazing seeing this program being built and what everybody brings to the table.”

Equally wonderful is seeing the theater after all take centerstage.

“It’s really exciting to see our playhouse finally getting some recognition. This theater truly is a gem in the community, but it’s been a struggle. I’ve had people in the community say ‘There is a playhouse in Lisbon? What? Where?,” Cleland mentioned. “But more and more people are realizing that we are here, right in Lisbon, right in the county seat. And they’re coming out to see their neighbors, their children and now their grandparents onstage. We want everyone to come out and join in the fun.”

The Silver Players are Cleland, Tener, Ron Altomare, Mary Ann Bacon, Jo Barto, Bob Borst, Kristi Braham, Mark Frost, Kari Lankford, Christine Lydic, Gloria Mathews, Stephen May, Mike Moss, Ruth Newman, Lynne Peterson and Chuck Simon. The manufacturing team of workers is composed of Cleland (creative director), Jodine Pilmer (musical director), Tessa Young (level supervisor), Lydon Freeman (assistant level supervisor), Grace Beil (lightning design), Steve May (prop grasp) and Aaron and Nathan Fenstermaker (mild ops). The Silver Pit Band participants are Pilmer (keyboards) and Stephen Ley (drums). Scott Weinart — at the side of Cleland — is accountable for systems and promotions, Leslie Ward is the field place of business supervisor and Will Flannigan is the webmaster. Young and Freeman even have small roles within the manufacturing.

To be told extra in regards to the Stage Left Community Arts Center or the Trinity Playhouse, talk over with stageleftplayers.org.