Cider Mill
STAGE

The Playboy of the Western World

Feb 18, 2022 - Feb 20, 2022
Summer Savoyards Production
General Admission Ticket – $25

The Summer Savoyards present John Millington Synge’s classic comedy of tall tales and misadventure, The Playboy of the Western World.

Synge’s 1907 play centers on a restless young woman, Pegeen Mike (Julia Adams), who is set to marry a stable, sensible, religious local farmer—Shawn Keough (Ian Harrison Cook)—in her small town in the west of Ireland. Her plans change, however, when a young fugitive, Christy Mahon (Ryan Canavan) comes into town and upsets her plans. Christy’s tale of rising up and slaying his abusive father wins him praise and even adoration across the community, from Pegeen’s father, bar owner Michael Flaherty (Charles Berman) to the scheming Widow Quin (Jessica Pullis), who sees in Christy a second chance at happiness. All goes well until a stranger from afar (Adam Ruff) comes to tell a tale that tarnishes Christy’s reputation and tips the story into a hilarious cascade of events.

Over the Pub

Mar 17, 2022 - Mar 27, 2022
Ticket – $25

The boisterous and colorful Murphys have a lot going on in their cramped apartment above the family pub in Cork City, Ireland in 1964. The youngest of the bunch, 12-year-old Tommy, is a smart, wise-cracking kid who’s starting to question family values and the Roman Catholic Church. When Tommy goes up against the ruler-wielding Sister Mary Agnes and announces that instead of being confirmed he’d rather shop around for a more “fun” religion, all hell breaks loose. A warm and hilarious look at family, growing up, and God.

Master Class

Apr 28, 2022 - May 1, 2022
Ticket – $25

Maria Callas is teaching a master class in front of an audience: us. She’s glamorous, commanding, larger than life—and drop-dead funny. Callas’ first “victim” is Sophie, a ridiculous, overly perky soprano. Sophie chooses to sing one of the most difficult arias, the sleepwalking scene from La sonnambula—an aria that Callas made famous. Before the girl sings a note, Callas stops her—and now what has started out as a class becomes a platform for Callas. She glories in her own career, dabbles in opera dish, and flat-out seduces the audience. But with that, there are plenty of laughs going on, especially between Callas and the audience. The next two sessions repeat the same dynamic: The middle session is with a tenor, who moves Callas to tears. She again enters her memories, and we learn about Callas’ affair with Aristotle Onassis; an abortion she was forced to have; her first elderly husband whom she left; her early days as an ugly duckling; the fierce hatred of her rivals; and the unforgiving press that savaged her at first. Finally, we meet Sharon, another soprano— the young singer has talent, but Callas tells her to stick to flimsy roles. Sharon is devastated and rushes out of the hall, and Callas brings the class to a close by acknowledging the sacrifices we must make in the name of art.