This year’s Birdcage presentation of One Acts offers the audience both a comedy, John R. Carroll’s "Oh, What A Tangled Web", directed by Mike Williams, and a drama, Peter Tarsi’s "Tracks", directed by Susan Blood. “Something for everyone tonight!”

Tracks,  is a play filled with the unknown. Nine strangers from different parts of the world end up in a subway station waiting to catch a train. Are they dead or are they alive? Are they in heaven or in hell or somewhere in-between? Will each decide to stay or go on? This play is about life after death. They have arrived with few personal belongings. Their watches have stopped and they all believe they are in different cities. They learn there is no way out of the station, and they are told, by one of the group who has been there longest, that they are all dead. Since subway stations have two sides, they figure out that the train leaving from one platform must be going to Heaven, while the train leaving from the other platform must be going to Hell. But which platform are they on? They think back on their lives, confessing things they did that they are not proud of. They discover they are neither saints nor terrible sinners, just people with flaws and regrets. Someone arrives from the other platform and confuses things even more. She reports that both sides are the same. The subway train finally comes. They must decide whether to stay and weigh the decision more or to get on the train not knowing where they are going.

During the considerations, there is a lot of humor. Tarsi is a talented playwright who is able to have his characters voice details and reactions that make the audience laugh even in these circumstances There are many “characters-trapped-together" plays where the characters involved are stereotypes that behave exactly as expected. Tarsi portrays his characters with great depth. They contradict themselves, which is exactly how people behave. Every member of the cast performs his/her role with great skill. Mickey Foster is wonderful as a wise and weary old man. Mickey makes him more than an old curmudgeon. He lets us know the disappointment and losses and suffering that made him one. Alexandria Olson shows us the Homeless Girl’s desperation and cynicism as she stands holding on to the belief that she may figure her way out of this. Jennifer Beers is the voice of reason as the Lawyer but wants to be liked. Ruby Thomas, The Nun, brings both brings hope and demonstrates innocence to the others as she lists her past sins. Erik Pieper shows a new dimension to his acting talent in a role that allows him to be warm and professorial. Nancy Rivera is both conflicted and composed as the Business Woman and Dennis Perri, the Business Man, is a most sympathetic character, a reformed thief who has made restitution but still fears for his soul. Newcomer Antoine King makes his debut at the Birdcage as a high school boy. He realistically has his character worrying about what his role as a boyfriend is. His girl friend, Liz Dryden, is a very talented, energetic, versatile young actress. After seeing her in this play and again in the next, it is obvious she is a star in the making. Her presence and energy on stage are a delight. Samantha Sanz really makes her character come to life. Her waitress is the sole of practicality. Susan Blood’s first venture as a director is a great success. She, along with her assistant, Carol Kitchen, and her mentor, Ana Pina, did a great job. Come and see this thriller to find out happens to each of these people.

Oh, What a Tangled Web, a hilarious comedy, follows an intermission. The plot is based on an age-old story. A teenage girl is trying to snare a future boyfriend. She makes up a little white lie as an excuse. To complicate matters, this future love she is trying to capture is not even for herself but for her sister. Her sisterly devotion causes her to go to the extreme and she blurts out to her sister’s employer that there has been a death in the family. It is really not a lie but an exaggeration. I can not reveal the punch line. It comes quickly in the play but it is great fun to put it together. She feels there is no harm in this little lie. But the doorbell starts to ring and in come friends, her sister’s boss and her parents. The complications multiply from this tiny fib into quite a tangled web.

Liz Dreyden (Jan Wilson), lights up the stage and has her audience rolling in the aisles as a mischievous fifteen year old who is filled with energy and confidence. Jennifer Beers (Chris Wilson) is the reasonable sister who takes advantage of her sister’s adventuresome spirit and Antoine King (Tim Scarlotta) gives a solid performances as the boyfriend,

Cheryl Turnbough (Sheila Wilson), Terry Bartlett (Frank Wilson), Frank Costello (Mr. Quigley), Susan Eisenberg (Mrs. Quigley) are all talented actors who have performed at the Birdcage together many times. The community knows them they know each other. They work together like a symphony orchestra blending, harmonizing and highlighting each other. Another first time director, Michael Williams is well known for his superior acting performances. He brilliantly cast this superb group in a very, funny lighthearted romp and provided the perfect last part of a terrific evening.

Performances will be held October 21 through November 6 at The Birdcage Theatre, 1740 Bird Street. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 PM and Sunday Matinees are at 2:00. Tickets are $15.00 General  $7.00 Preteens and are available at Discount Books, 1515 Myers Street, and Bartlett’s Hearing Instrument Center, 2450 C Oro Dam or call the Box Office 533-BIRD.