Auditions begin Jan. 7 for Town Hall Players

CORNWALL — The Town Hall Players postponed their planned fall production until the spring. Auditions and rehearsals will begin Jan. 7.

Cultural pursuits, such as theater, are certainly appreciated in Cornwall. But finding people with both the time and interest in performing, all at the same time, even when reaching out beyond Cornwall has been difficult.

Their production last February of “Arsenic and Old Lace� was performed as a radio play, eliminating the need for involved sets or for the actors to memorize lines, after a scrapped attempt at another production. The tiny Town Hall stage they call home demands they focus on content, rather than spectacle. It was a successful production that perfectly showcased local talent.

An intrepid core group is determined to grow from these and other challenges.

Settling on a play for the new production was tricky, kind of like recommending a book to a friend.

Producer Bobbie Tyson is a fan of British author P.G. Wodehouse, who wrote about 15 plays and 20 books, including several collections of short stories and novels starring Bertie Wooster and his manservant, Jeeves. He also wrote the book for “Showboat.�

Jeeves and Wooster are a beloved pair not only in books but also on film and television. Jeeves was played by Arthur Treacher in two 1920s films and by Stephen Fry on BBC TV in the early 1990s. Hugh Laurie, now famous as Dr. House, played the dotty Bertie Wooster.

“Jeeves and the Stolen Venus,� Tyson decided, would be perfect for a stage adaptation for the players. It had never yet been adapted for a performance. She gave it to Joe Hartnett, who often directs Town Hall Players productions.

“He came to the next board meeting with the script ready to go,� Tyson said in amazement.

“He add a lot of fun stuff,� board member Jandi Hanna said.

“Yes, like a lot of dialogue, more characters and a second act,� Tyson said.

Harnett divulged that it’s the only Jeeves story where it is the valet himself who commits the crime. But he’s not spoiling the ending with that revelation, he said, because the fun of the show is really in the dialogue. He said he likes the way Jeeves translates to the stage, comparing him to the Skye Masterson lead in “Guys and Dolls.� Masterson was a minor character in the original series of stories by Damon Runyon, but he was the central figure in the film.

For Hartnett, a chemical engineer by trade, theater is how he expresses his creative side.

“Most people think engineers can’t write,� Hartnett said. “I write reports all the time, but it’s very dry stuff.�

Hanna said the Players keep their ticket prices low, at $10, to try and keep it affordable for everyone.

“We give a large percentage of our proceeds to the Cornwall Food and Fuel Bank,â€� she added. “We want to be able to give to Cornwall in as many ways as possible. Everybody wins. People get to perform or enjoy a great play, and the people who come to the plays support the town  in many ways.â€�

“Don’t forget about the cushions,� Tyson said.

Since those folding chairs at Town Hall get pretty hard before the final curtain, the Players invested in seat cushions for the entire house.

Auditions, not limited to Cornwall residents, will be held Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 9 at 3 p.m. at Town Hall.

Crew and technical staff are also needed for a variety of roles. They include large parts for two men and one woman, and parts of smaller and varying sizes for four men and one woman.

To set a specific audition time, or another date by necessity, call Hartnett at 860-201-4542.

For technical and support work, call Tyson at 860-672-6762.