The original plan was to present “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
“But when COVID came, we felt that kind of intense show might not draw an audience,” Carmel resident John Clair said. “But our real concern was for the actors to have them rehearse face-to-face with all the intensity of that show. We couldn’t safely do that. We decided a comedy is what the public needed.”
Carmel Theatre Co. is presenting Bard Fest’s production of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” as a live radio show at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. Clair, who runs Carmel Theatre Co. with his wife, June, is serving as a producer. The play will be presented Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-10.
“We felt if we did it as a radio show, the actors would not have to play face-to-face,” Clair said. “They deliver their lines out in front of the stage because they stand behind a radio microphone. There is limited contact between the actors during the rehearsal process.”
Bard Fest, an Indianapolis theater company dedicated to presenting Shakespeare plays, is deviating from its usual fare. “We are trying to bring Bard Fest to Carmel,” Clair said. “The idea is to bring the Indianapolis Fringe Theatre audience up to Carmel to expand our reach.”
The show is directed by Indianapolis radio personality Matt Socey. Nan Macy, Tony Armstrong, Afton Shepard and Matt Walls play the leads, and Tony Johnson provides sound effects.
Patrons will be required to wear face coverings. The Cat also will practice social distancing, with spaces between the seats, and lobby distancing. Tickets will be available at the door. For more, visit thecattheatre.com.
