Thursday, July 9, 2009

Theatre off the Square in Weatherford to present Heaven Can Wait

By Pegasus News wire

The police investigation is underway at the Farnsworth mansion in Theatre Off the Square’s production of Heaven Can Wait.

Heaven Can Wait, written by Harry Segall and presented with special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., begins Friday, July 17, at Theatre Off the Square in Weatherford and runs weekends through August 2. Heaven Can Wait is the original play which was later the basis for the films Here Comes Mr. Jordan in 1941, Heaven Can Wait in 1978 and Down to Earth in 2001.

Having being “collected” 60 years too early for his appointment in Heaven, Joe Pendleton, played by Chris Reaves, arrives at the heavenly portal irritated and impatient for the error to be corrected. Messenger 7013, played by Jon Kruse, was overzealous in his new job collecting souls and plucked Joe from an airplane seconds before it crashed.

The matter is brought to the attention of Mr. Jordan, played by Rande Coney, who takes on the task of returning Joe to earth to live out the rest of his years. Finding a suitable body for Joe’s preferences is a challenge since Joe was a prize fighter who kept his body “in the pink” and was headed to become champion. Finally settling on a wealthy financier named Farnsworth in order to help out a young lady named Betty, played by Melissa Whiteman, Joe takes on the appearance and responsibilities of Mr. Farnsworth.

As the transfer into Mr. Farnsworth takes place, it comes as quite a shock to Julia, played by Kathy Manning, and Tony Abbott, played by Lewis Schwartz, since they plotted and carried out Mr. Farnsworth’s murder. Julia is Mr. Farnsworth’s wife and Tony his personal secretary who are romantically involved and drowned Mr. Farnsworth in the bathtub. When his body becomes available, Joe is placed in it and sets out to be a kinder and more generous Farnsworth.

That plan causes the soul of Farnsworth to storm the heavens and demand that Joe be made to leave. In the meantime, Joe’s contacted his old trainer, Max Levene, played by Delmar Dolbier, who has scheduled a fight for Joe (or Mr. Farnsworth) which is in jeopardy since Joe may have to vacate the body immediately. Add to that the murder investigation the police are conducting and it takes Mr. Jordan quite a bit of work getting all parties involved to come to an agreement just as time appears to be running out.

Directed by Duncan Alexander, Heaven Can Wait will be performed July 17-19, 24-26, and 31 through August 2, 2009, with Friday and Saturday shows beginning at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available in advance at the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce or by calling 817-341-8687 (TOTS). Prices at the door are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Matinee tickets are $9. For more information, call 817-341-8687 (TOTS) or visit www.weatherfordtots.org.

Source: Theatre Off the Square

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