November 5, 2008 > Theater Review: Universal Performers present Neil Simon's Plaza Suite

Mission San Jose High School's Universal Performers open the season with Neil Simon's comedy Plaza Suite on Friday November 7. This play, which won a Tony Award for best direction, has three acts set in room 719 at the Plaza Suite Hotel in New York. Instead of a single plot the play is built around the theme of love with three little plays.

Director Anne Riley assisted by student directors Emily Mansfield and Lizze Bode uses three couples to portray the characters in the playlets. The first act revolves around middle aged couple Sam (Lance Smith) and Karen (Sarah Thompson) trying to revive their marriage on their twenty third anniversary while in the second act film producer Jesse (Scott Kavanagh), a smooth talking ladies man meets his former high school girlfriend Muriel (Emily Destigter) with the intention of seducing her. The third playlet finds parents Roy (Patrick Painter) and Norma (Samira Ghassemian) on their daughter's wedding day trying to coax her out of the suite's bathroom where she has locked herself in a fit of nervousness.

Anne Riley and her tech students have created an unusual and interesting setting to showcase this comedy. The themes in this play are more suited for high school students and adults. Parent discretion is advised for students below 12 years of age

All shows start at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30.

Plaza Suite
Friday, Nov 7, 14 & Saturday Nov 8, 15
8 p.m.
MSJ Little Theater
41717 Palm Ave., Fremont
(510) 668-6077
www.msjhspups.org

General Admission: $10
UP members and students 12 years and younger: $8