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the play :: the author :: the cast and crew :: reviews
THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS
by Neil Simon
directed by Kurt Naebig and Dani Prados*
July 14th - 29th, 2006
Chopin Theatre Mainstage
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm
$22 General Admission
$15 Industry/Students/Seniors
(312) 777-1245
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Soul Theatre's first production is all about sex. The Last of the Red Hot Lovers is about a middle-aged man who wants to have an affair. The play revolves around his attempts to woo three women (a hussy, a bohemian, and a neighbor) and his epiphany that he'd rather stay with his wife. The Last of the Red Hot Lovers features David Murphy, Ravi Batista*, Lauren McCarthy, and Caren Evers. *denotes Soul Theatre company member |
| Lauren McCarthy and David Murphy. Photo by Adonis San Juan. |
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Marvin Neil Simon was born on July 4, 1927, the second son of Irving Simon, a Jewish traveling salesman, and his wife Mamie. He grew up in the Bronx in New York City. As early as 1948 he was writing scripts together with his brother Danny for radio and television. His sketches for Phil Silvers, Gary Moore, Jerry Lewis, etc. contributed to his wide acclaim. He and his brother separated and Neil began writing for the New York theater scene. He married Joan Baim (a dancer) on September 10, 1953 (widowed 1973). He married Marsha Mason (actress) on October 25, 1973 (divorced 1982). He married |
Diane Lander, 1987 (divorced, 1988). He remarried Diane Lander, 1990. He has three daughters. He attended New York University, 1946, and the University of Denver. During his career he has been a producer, playwright, and screenwriter. He worked at Warner Brothers as a mailroom lerk in 1946. He served at Camp Tamiment , PA , and wrote material for revues, 1952-53. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, and was the sports editor for Rev-Meter, 1945-46. |
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Kurt Naebig (Co-Director) is excited to be working with Soul Theatre company on their very first show. Previous productions include Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Sylvia, Fuddy Meers, The Country Club, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, and Lost in Yonkers with Buffalo Theatre Ensemble where he is a member. He also directed Life and Limb, and Brilliant Traces with Swing For The Fences Productions. Kurt is also an actor and Juilliard Graduate and has been on stage at Steppenwolf Theatre, Portland Stage, Milwaukee’s Pabst Theatre, National Jewish Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare and A Red Orchid Theatre. Favorite roles include Merrick in The Elephant Man, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Joe in Golden Boy. He has also appeared in such films as Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Dillinger, Howard Beach: Making the Case for Murder, and on television has appeared in ER and Prison Break. Kurt is a teacher and acting coach at Acting Studio Chicago.
Dani Prados (Co-Director/Lighting Designer) is tickled pink to be making her Chicago directorial debut with Soul Theatre at the Chopin. Dani has directed The Eleventh Hour, done lights for Chroma, the Minh Tran Dance Company, Taking Notes at Traffic Lights, Walking, TahiniHolt, Far and Away, and Juares, all in Portland , Oregon . She has stage managed This is Our Youth, Chicago Dance Crash’s Joseph Pascal…, and assisstant stage managed Greasy Joan’s The Oresteia. She would especially like to thank Zygmunt and Lela for their great imaginations and even greater hearts.
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David Murphy (Barney Cashman) has made a full circle back to stage. Starting out as an actor, he ended up putting more energy into teaching and directing. He taught Improvisation a number of years for the Player’s Workshop of the Second City. Worked as a casting director for Chicago’s O’Connor Casting. Using his years of casting experience, started a school with partner Sean Bradley, called The Green Room Studio, which teaches acting for camera. Yet his journey began on stage. David’s has been in numerous shows around the |
| Chicagoland area. From Cervantes for Village Players “Man of La Mancha”, to God in Factory Theatre’s “Surreal World”. “I am happy to be working with all the talented people involved in this production. “ David wishes to give a special thanks to Jennifer Connelly, whose support is beyond measure. | |
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Ravi Batista (Elaine Navazio) recently appeared in The Oresteia with Greasy Joan & Company and school shows with First Folio Shakespeare Festival. She has appeared in staged readings with Silk Road Theatre Project and Chicago ScriptWorks, Maxwell Street at Donny’s Skybox, short films, and other plays around town. She attended the School at Steppenwolf. She would like to thank her family, friends, and Zygmunt and Lela. |
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Lauren McCarthy (Bobbi Michelle) is thrilled to be working on such an absolutely groovy play! She has lived in Chicagoland area her whole life, besides three and a half years spent in Bloomington , Indiana where she attended the occasional class. Lauren also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the Conservatory at Second City . She’s worked with a few theatre companies in town (Redmoon Theatre, The House Theatre of |
| Chicago ) and is a proud member of “Money in the Pants,” a kickin’ new sketch comedy group. Lauren sends her love to her friends and ridiculously supportive family . | |
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Caren Evers (Jeanette) Caren's credits include plays, films and improv comedy around the country. She recently directed a short film Complementary Nuts. Caren is the Treasurer and Volunteer Director for Chicago ScriptWorks, a not for profit group that produces staged readings of screenplays. Caren graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Theatre Arts. |
Emily Smith (Stage Manager/Light & Sound Board Operator) Emily’s most recent credits include stage managing for n.u.f.a.n.’s The Cemetery Tree and The Value of Horses, as well as set design for Horses and technical designer for n.u.fa.n.’s 7 Plays in 7 Days festival. She is an artistic associate with n.u.f.a.n. and a junior at Roosevelt University . She would like to thank David, Ravi , Lauren, Caren, Kurt, and especially Dani, for all of their amazing talent and dedication, as well as Zyg and Lela at the Chopin for being the best host and hostess in the world. I love you all.
Dave Lally (Co-Sound Designer) is also the webmaster for Silk Road Theatre Project and can be reached at dave@d4v3.com He liked the idea of working with a new theatre company whose mission is swallowing souls.
Blayne Greiner (Co-Sound Designer)
Joe Giovannetti (Master Electrician)
Daniel Pellant (Props Designer)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
'Lovers' a bit dated
By Kerry Reid
Special to the Tribune
Published July 21, 2006
Soul Theatre makes its first appearance in Chicago with "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," Neil Simon's decidedly dated comedy about Barney Cashman, married proprietor of a fish restaurant who is desperate for a midlife affair. The play unfolds in three acts--one for each stereotype of womanhood. Elaine is the hard-as-nails opportunist, Bobbi is the flaky bubbleheaded singer/actress who goes from being a freak magnet to an outright freak, and Jeanette is the neurotic, uptight wife of Barney's best friend. For the Freudians in the crowd, each of these assignations takes place in the Manhattan apartment of Barney's mother, a space beautifully realized on the Chopin stage by set designers Sebastien Grouard and Daniel Pellant.
This play premiered at the tail end of the '60s, and it feels like Simon's desperate attempt to cash in on the sexual revolution without losing his Borscht Belt-to-Broadway credibility. But if one can get past the misogyny and the mustiness of the storyline, there are still some laughs to be wrung out of the script. The performances are excellent across the board, particularly David Murphy's suitably shlumpy Barney and Ravi Batista's piranha-witted Elaine. "Are you as cold as you seem?" Barney asks Elaine. "I need gloves to take off my underwear," she replies.
Directors Kurt Naebig and Dani Prados keep the show on track, never winking at the age of the material.
Through July 29 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Tickets are $15-$22 at 312-777-1245.
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