The cast performs 7 short comedies in “Eunice’s Beauty , Barber and Bait shoppe” at Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius. (Warehouse PAC photo)

By CONNIE FISHER

Clever plays on words, mishaps, cultural twists, and compromising situations create an evening of laughter and surprises for audiences at The Warehouse Performing Arts Center during the company’s Third Annual 10-Minute Comedy Playfest. As The Warehouse’s fourth-season opener, “Eunice’s Beauty, Barber and Bait Shoppe” is a hilarious packet of seven 10-minute comedies, directed by two well-established figures of the area stage, Vito Abate and Sarah Provencal.

Provencal’s talent is evident in her direction of “Alas!”, “Changing Chairs” and “Lemonade.” She just returned from London after two premieres she directed and co-authored. “Wanted: Help!” one of Abate’s own entries, was selected among the whopping 78 new plays submitted by playwrights around the country who responded to the call for a 10-minute comedy, set in Eunice’s beauty and bait shoppe.

“Alas!” by Seattle playwright Laurie Spector is a hilarious spoof with costumed Shakespearean characters, Hamlet played by Daniel Breuer and Lady MacBeth played by Heather Busch juxtaposing Shakespeare’s English with modern day hair salon and tackle lingo. Hamlet ponders, “To be…” with a choice of 2B hooks. Roger Watson as the provincial fisherman Horace determines that Hamlet’s northern origin has to be Canada.

“Changing Chairs” is a clever spoof written by Laura Pfizenmayar of Alabama. Eunice, the hairdresser, played by Meredith McBride adroitly turns the tables—oops, chairs—on Camille, the two-timing, pretentious client, played by Mara Rosenberg. Great lines.

Matt Kenyon is the author of an outlandish, hysterically funny play about family secrets in “My Dear Cousin Starla.” Heather Busch is on stage this time as the insecure Cousin Kirby, weary of the forthcoming visit from her conniving, evil Cousin Starla played by Jessica Smith. And Daniel Breuer, appearing as TW, gets his laughs, while Cousin Kirby unravels her embarrassing story. Kelly Ogden’s walk-on as Aunt Eunice is in the most outlandish costume. Kudos to costume designer Lory Butters.

Vito Abate’s script for “Wanted: Help!” is filled with an amusing array of quirky characters interviewing for a job at Eunice’s salon. Kiersten Malo as Gladys, Eunice’s ultra-nervous assistant is overwhelmed by the slippery pseudo professional Duvet played by Cat Rutledge, fearful, effeminate Teddy played by Bill Reilly and the overbearing aggressive woman who calls herself Bev Ridge, portrayed by Mara Rosenberg.

“Suppression is the cornerstone of Catholicism,” Chapel Hill playwright Mark Cornell says, in his farce, “Forbidden Love or a Priest Walks into a Salon.” The hilarious play oozes with juicy one-liners and twisted sequences played by Bill Reilly as Father John who Roxanne, played by Jessica Smith, calls Father Sexy-Pants. Since when does a vested priest wear a rosary around his neck? In this play, Cat Rutledge portrays Eunice, the hairdresser, who is challenged by Mary Craven as Charlotte, the priest’s suspicious mother. Wanna know why?

It’s a stretch to claim “Lemonade,”  by Kevin Rabas of Kansa, is a comedy. It’s more a delightful, sentimental vignette about a middle-aged man named James. He’s played by the versatile Daniel Breuer, while and Meredith McBride plays Isabelle. Charmingly romantic, the play’s smooth dialogue has loving appeal.

The closing 10-minute story, “Catch and Release” by South Carolinian Carol Butler lives up to its title. It’s filled with rapid-fire dialogue between Cat Rutledge as Charmane and Bill Riley as Les who continually vie to catch and release each other. The hairdresser Eunice portrayed by Marilyn England unfortunately is a distraction. She overplays slapstick. Her real life husband Alan England does a credible portrayal as Eunice’s bored, hen-pecked husband, Moore. He’d rather concentrate on girlie pictures.

WANT TO GO? 

“Eunice’s Beauty, Barber and Bait Shoppe” continues this weekend and next, through Feb. 9, with Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances at 8pm. Sunday matinees begin at 2pm. The Warehouse is located at 9216-A Westmorland Road in Cornelius. For reservations and tickets, call 704-619-0429 or reserve online at www.warehousepac.com.

Watch a video preview on www.youtube.com.