‘Sleuths & Spies’ was a fun night; next show is June 2

One Night Stand Theater has a unique way of operating: now you see it, and now you don’t. As the company’s name suggests, its original productions play for one night only. If one is lucky enough to circle the date on their calendar, they are in for a delightful evening of short plays surrounding a particular theme. On April 7, it was Sleuths & Spies, comprised of seven delightful short plays about the world of private eyes, spies and those who love them.

The evening was hosted by James O’Leary, the artistic director of One Night Stand Theater — a cheerleader who introduces the evening and each subsequent short play. Playwrights from across the country submitted their plays for consideration, and the winning entries were directed by O’Leary, Lorraine Scott, Brenda Hoskins and Matthew Davis. Presented in the style of a staged reading, actors carried scripts with them and used little or no set pieces and few props.

The opening play, Modus Operandi by David Lipschutz, was a twisted tale of impending marriage and the hoops the betrothed must jump through. With actors Joi Hiatt, Kurt J. Keilbach, Mauro Segura and Emily Koehler-Mathena, we are led to believe it is a typical police-type interrogation of a suspected criminal. Or is it? Come to find out, it’s a set-up by the bride’s parents, making sure that the chosen groom is up to the challenges of marriage.

Next was Spies! by Dave Ufford, a short play with four scenes. Having to do with the lengths spies go to protect their identities, it was a comic look at spydom. Featuring Spy Daddy Long-legs (Guy Williams), Spy Brown Recluse (Bryan Anderson), and Spy Black Widow (Suzanna Wellens), they would meet each other in a new location and sing a line from a popular song to identify themselves.

All three actors were stone-cold sober in their characterizations, providing even more laughs. Both gentlemen are welcome holdovers from the last production of Date Night by One Night Stand Theater, along with Wellens, a welcome addition.

Another high point in the evening was Sammy the Sleuth, a poem written by Bill Thompson. Doug Tisdale was the narrator, and Guy Williams was back again as Sammy. In this case, the language transcended mere dialogue and was a unique blend of poetic words. It was a nice break from the traditionally structured plays that surrounded it.

All seven plays deserve applause for cleverly touching upon the world of spies and detectives. The entire company of actors, also including Mark Ogle, Maria Allysandra Ortiz, Linda Swenson Brown and Adrian Hart, captured the joyful essence of merriment as brought to life through the individual acts.

The direction was bright and credible, presented in a modest style. Each director immediately established a distinctive flavor for their play, offering the opportunity to see seven different presentations in a fresh light.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming One Night Stand evening on Sunday, June 2, at 7:30 pm at Aurora’s Vintage Theatre.  The evening is called All Greek to Me and sounds like another winner.

Interested in contributing to One Night Stand’s next show?