Flights of Fancy Soars at Stage 3

"Hard to imagine a more delightful surprise than 'Flights of Fancy'"
Modesto Bee

"'Flights of Fancy' a real winner."
Union Democrat

Stage 3 Theatre Company in Sonora has a national reputation for finding the freshest and brightest new plays. Its latest offering, Flights of Fancy, is a dazzling display of comic virtuosity by a rising new star of American Theatre, playwright Suzanne Wingrove - two-time winner of Stage 3's prestigious Festival of New Plays.

Wingrove delighted Stage 3 audiences two years ago with her backstage romp, "A Show of Her Own", which continues to be produced around the country. Her zany situations, wacky characters and brilliant dialogue recall the great screwball comedies of yesteryear but updated with a modern twist.

"We are very excited about this production." says Stage 3 Artistic Director Don Bilotti. "I don't think I've ever heard an audience laugh so hard and so long as the one who saw "Flights of Fancy" at our Festival of New Plays last summer. We couldn't wait to give this terrific new comedy the full treatment."

"Flights of Fancy" revolves around Jeffrey Chambers, a middle age would-be Hemingway who makes his living writing romance novels under the pen name of Dominique Desiree. When his inspiration dries up, he is assigned a collaborator, an ardent young feminist who just happens to be the boss' daughter. Sparks fly as these two polar opposites try to turn out something that resembles a book to meet the ever-approaching deadline.

"The two will loathe each other, only to fall in love, right?…Wingrove is an award-winning playwright (she won the Eugene O'Neill playwriting award at last check) and it becomes clear that she is well-aware of what I will expect from this setup -- she turns it all around on me to delightful surprise."
Modesto Bee

The characters in the novel come to life before our eyes and morph their way through a side-splitting progression of scenes and character twists as the two creators battle it out. The complications pile one on top of the other until this critical mass reaches comic meltdown. Only one thing is certain, love is sure to blossom – but where? and in what combinations? We never know until the very end.

"It's a superbly sublime and sophisticated plot device."
Modesto Bee

Director Eric Owens who so deftly helmed the staged reading last year returns to take the reigns. After a long career as an actor, he is making his solo directorial debut at Stage 3.

"There are too many scene stealers in this play. Which is good if you're there to enjoy the play -- but it's tough when you're assigned to review it and only have so much room to rave."
Modesto Bee

"Flights of Fancy" demands skilled comic performers and Stage 3 has assembled a top-notch cast. Novelist Chambers is portrayed by Graham Scott Green, a first-rate actor and director and Artistic Director of Murphys Creek Theatre Company. His creative nemesis is played by Taylor Swaty who was last seen as the lovely Princess Alais in "The Lion in Winter" at Stage 3. The hilarious fictional creations are Susannah Allatt, Cyndie Menard and Frank Silva. Local favorite Steven Daly plays the gruff but loveable publisher.

Playwright Wingrove is a native of Seattle who now makes her home in Connecticut. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the next ten years were, as she puts it, "an endless kaleidoscope of childbirth, school lunches and PTA meetings." Since returning to the theatrical work force she has authored six plays including "The Women's Guild", "Sextet a Tete" , "A Show of Her Own" and Maleficia: A Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches. As an actress she has won the Eugene O'Neill Award.

The show is rated PG for mild language and situations.

"Flights of Fancy" will run at Stage 3, 208 S. Green St., downtown Sonora, from April 11- May 11. Performances are on an expanding schedule. First week: Fri. and Sat., April 11 and 12. Second week: Fri. .and Sat. April 18 and 19. Beginning April 24, the show will run Thursday. through Sunday. Curtain times are 7 pm, Thursday, 8 pm Friday and Saturday and 2 pm Sunday. Ticket prices are $10 Thursday, $14 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Senior Sundays are $10. Students always $8. Call 209 536 1778 for reservations and information.