by Lorie Lewis Ham
This past weekend we finally made it to see Stage Door, a Good Company Players production currently on stage at 2nd Space in Fresno. Stage Door gives the audience a peek into the world of those struggling to make a living as actors.
Stage Door is a 1936 play co-written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. It follows the lives of a group of young actresses in New York who live in a boarding house that is run by former actress Mrs. Orcutt (Karan Johnson). The show allows us to see the ups and downs of this life–including the struggles they have at times just to pay the rent and eat. We also get to see the compromises some of them make to survive, those who give up (either to get married and move away, or take a more tragic way out), and the lucky ones who make it big–sometimes at the cost of their self respect. While this show is set in the 30s, it could just as easily be set now, as the struggles of actors are much the same today as they were then.
Cast of GCP’s production of STAGE DOOR
Much of the focus is around actress Terry Randall (Bailey Johnson), who goes from small part to small part while watching her best friend, Jean Maitland (Jessica Rose Knotts), succeed in Hollywood. We also see all of the men that go in and out of these girls’ lives–boyfriends, agents, a handyman, and a father.
Terry (Bailey Johnson) & David Kingsley (Ted Nunes)
While I had seen and enjoyed the 1937 movie version of Stage Door long ago, I had never seen the play. This show makes you feel like you are watching a wonderful old movie come to life in front of you. The 1930s hair and costumes were great and there is an energy that comes from the hopefulness of these eager young actresses.
Left to right Terry ((Bailey Johnson) & Jean (Jessica Rose Knotts)
Everyone did a lovely job of making this show come to life. It is funny, sweet, and at times sad. There were many young faces in this show who were new to me, and I look forward to seeing more of them on stage in the future. Some of the other more familiar faces included Brooke Aiello, Gordon Moore, Ted Nunes, Henry Montelongo, Sterling Chase Stubblefield, Noel Adams, and Larry Mattox.
If you love old movies like I do, then be sure to head on out to see Stage Door which will be on stage at 2nd Space until June 18, and treat yourself to an enjoyable night at the theatre. You can learn more and purchase tickets on the GCP website.
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