Theater: The OWENS VALLEY STAGE COMPANY and Inyo Council for the Arts announce the spring production of D. L. Coburn's award-winning tragi-comedy, The Gin Game. Two elderly persons, impoverished and in ill health, both placed in an old age home they find less than satisfactory, explore the possibility of a rewarding relationship with each other through a series of gin rummy games. The result is an unexpectedly humorous comedy of character, which does not have the standard "and they lived happily ever after" ending. It treats problems of character and life that all of us who live long enough must face. The production will open at Mill Creek Station the weekend of April 13, 14, and 15, where it is co-produced with Roger Derryberry. It will be the first theatrical production in Roger's renovated interior space. Mill Creek Station is located on Mill Creek Road off Hwy 395 about 10 miles north of Bishop. The Gin Game will play the next two weekends, April 20, 21, 22 and 27, 28, 29, at the theater company's home space, Inyo Council for the Arts, located at 137 S. Main in Bishop. Friday and Saturday performances at both locations will be at 7:30 pm, and Sunday afternoon performances at 2:30 pm. The Gin Game premiered on Broadway in 1977, starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. The play received four Tony Award nominations, and in 1978 was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was revived in 1997, starring Julie Harris and Charles Durning, and received more Tony Award attention. It has been produced to exceptional acclaim by both professional and community theaters in every major theater-going country around the world. The OWENS VALLEY STAGE COMPANY has previously produced three successfully received plays: the warmly sentimental On Golden Pond in Fall 2005; Here Lies Jeremy Troy, a riotous farce, in Spring 2006; and a play for children and adults, The Emperor's New Clothes, last fall. The Gin Game will be directed by Bob Struckman, who also directed On Golden Pond and Here Lies Jeremy Troy. **************************************************** If you are interested in becoming involved in future productions of The Owens Valley Stage Company, in any capacity, please call Bob Struckman at 760-387-2264. y
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