"The Brothers Tortellini" is the Crowded Kitchen Players 59th production, and, as weve come to expect, it promises to be a hilarious night out at the theatre for the audience. Never heard of "The Brothers Tortellini"' Well, odds are, you actually have.
The BrothÂers Tortellini: A Toga ComÂedy, is based on the clasÂsic Roman farce The BrothÂers Menaechmi, by PlauÂtus, which was the source for Shakespeares "A ComÂedy of Errors", Richard Rodgers "The Boys From SyraÂcuse", and Larry Gelbarts "A Funny Thing HapÂpened on the Way to the Forum". Years after his twin brother TortelliÂnus (proÂnounced Tortell-ee-nus) was abducted by a human trafÂficker and sold abroad, TortelliÂnus (proÂnounced Tortell-eye-nus) sets out across the MediterÂranean hopÂing to learn of his brothers fate. When desÂtiny brings them to the same island and the same town on the same day, a tsunami of misÂtaken idenÂtity, glutÂtony, and greed threatÂens to preÂvent them from ever being reunited.
Ara Barlieb not only wrote an original adaptation of the play, but is also directing the production.
Though Plautuss work has been interpreted and manipulated many different ways, Barliebs adaptation is taken directly from the original text, though the dialogue has been modernized.
Barlieb says, "When I was in high school I had the ultimate Latin teacher who made us translate Plautus whod written a play called The Menaechmi, which over time became known as "The Brothers Menaechmi, and I was lucky to translate it in college, also. I just thought it could make a really really funny show, and I came up with this idea of adapting it for The Crowded Kitchen Players.
"We did change the title, mostly because we were hungry for Italian."
This show also marks the return of The Crowded Kitchen Players to Allentown after a 7 year stint in Quakertown.
"While some folks inside Allentown administration were trying to help us find a venue, we were contacted by Zions Reformed UCC ", producer Pamela Wallace says ."
The space is beautiful and the perfect setting for this Roman comedy. Its also historical, having served as a hiding place for Liberty Bell during the American Revolution.
One of the things that sets Crowded Kitchen Players apart from other theatres is its emphasis on creating the environment of a theatre company, opposed to just a theatre.
Barlieb states. "The difference is that a community theatre is built around a building and the volunteers who help keep that facility open and operational. Were a company, which is built not around mortar and bricks, but around an ensemble of creative and talented people."
Taking a look at CKPs track record, which features 59 shows over 15 years, its clearly a technique that works.
"Weve had most of the same players for the past 15 years, and that continues through this production." Barlieb goes on to say. "The cast is made up primarily of people who have done several shows with us." He adds, "Though were always seeking new members!"
Another feature that sets CKP apart from other theatres is the physicality that always appears in their productions.
"The Crowded Kitchen style is to take comedy to the extreme, which is to hurt the actors as much as possibly without injuring them." Barlieb laughs.
The cast of Tortellini is made up entirely of Crowded Kitchen Players, including founding members Pamela Wallace, Tom Harrison, and David Oz Oswald. Other cast members include Sharon Ferry, David Fox, Todd Carpien, Lauri Beth Rogers, Libby Ross, and Michael Thew, and Carla Thew.
"This show is timeless." Barlieb says, when asked about what makes this show different. "It has all of the rudiments of comedy working to its advantage. It starts with the simplest of comedic elements, which is mistakes. Misperceptions, mistaken identity, misdirection, its all loaded with that. Its like it invented that. So, when youre turning it into a play, you have all the tools you need to make it into a comedy. You can almost not go wrong. Its remarkable to me that its not done more frequently, its incredibly rich."
"Most of the people who would be imminently more qualified to do this show would say its disgraceful, but only because they didnt think of it first." Barlieb concludes.
The Brothers Totellini opens Friday, October 10th and runs weekends through October 26th. Friday and Saturday night performances begin at 8pm, Sunday shows at 3pm.
Zions Reformed UCC is located at 620 W. Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101. For tickets and more information please call 610.395.7176. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance.