Mature actresses hit center stage

Tom Titus

One of the most recurring complaints in local theater is the

dearth of good roles for actresses of a certain age -- those who may

be grouped into the “mature” category.

Whether Edward Percy and Reginald Denham had this situation in

mind when they wrote “Ladies in Retirement” some 60 years ago is open

to conjecture. But this venerable drama has plenty of parts for women

in the aforementioned category.

The Huntington Beach Playhouse will showcase a group of these

seasoned talents this weekend when “Ladies in Retirement” opens at

the Central Library Theater under the direction of Terri Miller

Schmidt, who brought “Bus Stop” to the Huntington Beach stage a year

ago.

“This play was first staged in the 1940s in war-torn England

during the Blitz, to rave reviews,” Schmidt explains. “Starring Dame

Flora Robinson in the lead, it later was brought to the States as a

film starring Ida Lupino and Louis Hayward.”

She describes the play as “a long-time staple on the British

stages and a wonderful showcase for seasoned actresses.” Her own cast

is headed by the “wonderfully diverse” Teri Ciranna -- who excelled

as Katherine in “The Lion in Winter” last year at the Newport Theater

Arts Center and last performed on the Huntington Beach stage in

“Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will?” The diversity Schmidt refers to

includes Ciranna’s scenery-chewing villainesses in Schmidt’s

productions of “Popeye” and “The Princess and the Magic Pea,” as well

as the title role in two incarnations of “Driving Miss Daisy.”

Completing the Huntington Beach cast will be Valerie Speaks, Patti

Rambo and local newcomer Margaret VandenBerghe, along with Wendy

Braun and Patrick Strong. Dawn Conant and Ana Fluck are producing,

with Kelly Tickner as stage manager.

As for the plot, it concerns a companion to a wealthy actress

living in a remote country home, who makes plans to provide a

permanent home for her two eccentric sisters to whom she is devoted.

A murder offers unexpected twists to complicate the plan.

Performances of “Ladies in Retirement” will be given Thursdays and

Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m.

in the Library Theater, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, Sept

6-22. Tickets are priced at $14 and $16 and reservations are being

taken at (714) 375-0696.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.