Little Firehouse Theatre |
PRESS RELEASE
"Pack of Lies"A Bergen County Players production |
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Oradell, NJ, October 2002 – The Bergen County Players, one of America’s foremost community theatre groups, will present “Pack of Lies”, beginning October 26, 2002. “Pack of Lies”, written by Hugh Whitemore, opened in London, went to Broadway, and was shown on television in 1987. It is based on the true story of the Krogers, convicted in 1961 of spying for the Russians. The story involves no cloaks, no daggers, only ordinary people in a London suburb. Barbara, a stiff and mousy housewife, adores her tea klatches with her friend Helen, a loud but lovable American lady who lives across the street. An agent of British intelligence comes to see Barbara wanting to use her home to snoop on a mysterious stranger, believed to be a KGB spy, who is seen visiting the neighborhood. The play concentrates on the tensions and traumas this unsavory arrangement creates for Barbara Jackson when she agrees to this proposal. Soon everyone is smudged with dirty secrets and everyone lies. The way the story is resolved, however, is not your typical happy ending. That’s the trouble with truth; fiction seems to be so much neater. Though it hardly sends one away happy, “Pack of Lies” is serious and respectable. And, given today’s circumstances, is an intriguing and troubling entry in the what-would-you-do-genre. In the unfortunate atmosphere Americans now live in, when it comes to our neighbors, or the people we rub elbows with on airplanes or on crowded streets, we all entertain our little suspicions. “Pack of Lies” shows how much more complicated life could get should the suspicions be confirmed. Ruth Morley of Ridgewood plays Barbara Jackson, the conservative and quiet London housewife. Ms. Morley has appeared in over thirty plays and musicals in England and here in the U.S. and was Head of the Drama Department at St. Joseph’s College in London for five years. Helen Schaefer, the suspected espionage agent across the street, is played by Rachel Gordon of Paramus. This is Ms. Gordon’s 20th appearance with the Bergen County Players. She has performed in over 50 shows in four states and has written scripts and appeared on television in a number of educational children’s shows. Ray Yucis of Paterson appears as Bob, Barbara’s timid husband. Mr. Yucis is a founding member and past president of Fair Lawn’s Old Library Theatre where he acted in and directed various plays and musicals and has also appeared with the Montclair Operetta Club. James Lesko of Englewood portrays Stewart, the British Intelligence agent. Mr. Lesko played multiple roles in the Bergen County Players’ productions of “Epic Productions” and “How I Learned to Drive” where he also appeared in “Communicating Doors”, and has most recently appeared in “1776.” Sheldon Stone of Totowa plays Helen’s husband Peter. Mr. Stone has appeared over a dozen times with the Bergen County Players has performed in over 60 shows in community theatres. Jessica Mumma of New Milford plays Barbara’s daughter Julie, who is kept in the dark all along until the plot is revealed to her. Rounding out this fine cast in the roles of Sally and Thelma, the two female British Intelligence agents, are Roberta Lipp of Oradell and Diane Moran, a resident of North Haledon. “Pack of Lies” will be directed by Iris Weinhouse of Hillsdale. Ms. Weinhouse has appeared in off-Broadway, summer stock and the Bergen County Players in more than 80 productions and last season directed Bergen County Players’ second-stage production of “Parallel Lives. TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION “Pack of Lies” opens Saturday October 26, 2002 and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through November 16, 2002 at the: Little Firehouse Theatre
Those interested in benefit theatre parties or group sales can call (201) 262-0515. For more information on the Bergen County Players visit www.BCPlayers.org. For Immediate Release Contact:
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