By KYRA GOTTESMAN - The Buzz
Posted: 01/07/2010 12:00:00 AM PST
OROVILLE -- The Birdcage Theatre is kicking off the new year with a presentation of one-act plays that bring both comedy and poignancy to the stage.
On slate for this community theater production is the premiere of two original one acts -- "The Scent" and "I Don't Smoke" -- written and directed by Oroville resident Carol Kitchen and "Lost" written by Tony Award-winning actress turned playwright Mary Louise Wilson and directed by Mindy Rose Kubik.

Photo "Lost"
 
"Lost" is a simple yet witty comedy about two absent-minded women -- Helen and Alice,  played by local actresses Susan Eisenberg and Barbara Daggett, respectively -- who are trying to leave their house for an outing.
"It's very funny and very clever," Kitchen said.

Kitchen's involvement with the Birdcage Theatre started two years ago but she has been writing for many years.
"I have been a closet writer for years. Once I got introduced to the theater, I found it very seductive and became fascinated by the director's process of taking a play from paper to stage," she said. "I spent a year watching and being mentored by the Birdcage directors before I decided to step out and give directing my own scripts a try myself."

Photo "The Scent"
 
"The Scent" is a poignant story about a man, Mr. Jamison, portrayed by local veteran actor Dennis Perri, who is struggling against the inevitability of life's cycle, letting go and saying goodbye

Photo "I Don't Smoke"
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"I Don't Smoke" is a blend of comedy and drama. In this one act, Kitchen tells the story of Karen, played by J.C. Newport, a woman in her mid-50s who finds herself single after more than 30 years of marriage. It's Karen's best friend Serena, played by Judy McCullough, who assists her in facing the single life.
"My plays are based on real-life people and situations that I have fictionalized for the stage," Kitchen said. "What I just love about these two one acts is that the casts include people, age 5 to 86, and a dog."

While the three one acts presented in this production are very different from one another they present the audience with what Kitchen describes as a "harmonious evening of entertainment."

"The evening gives the audience a sampling of three different areas of theater -- straight comedy, straight drama and a combination of comedy and drama," Kitchen said.

"An Evening of One Acts" is scheduled to show three consecutive weekends -- Jan. 15-17, Jan. 22-24 and Jan. 29-31 -- with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at the Birdcage Theatre, 1740 Bird St. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and younger. Tickets are available in advance at Discount Books, 1515 Myers St., or at the door.