SCR/Party Play with Ann Conway

Honorary Producers Richard Wright, Mary Beth Adderley, Elizabeth Adderley with Director Martin Benson.

Betty and S.L. Huang, actor Khrystyne Haje, Olivia Johnson

Dennis and Joanne Keith, Actor Hal Landon Jr., Janis Morrissette

MUCH ADO ABOUT 'NOTHING SACRED'
By Ann Conway

Turgenev would have loved it. There was icy vodka on tap at the bash celebrating the launch of SCR's 43rd season. And there was caviar perched atop tasty potato latkes. Not to mention a masterfully created coulibiac of salmon. And while the reveling First Nighters — fresh out of watching George F. Walker's Nothing Sacred (inspired by Ivan Turgenev's classic novel, Fathers and Sons) — mingled on Ela's Terrace, they were serenaded by Firebird, a polished trio of musicians strumming Russian folk songs.

Carl Neisser drank it all in from a bench that is part of the theater's new Picasso-esque sculpture-cum-seating installation, Spatio Virtuo Teatro, created by modernist Jason Meadows.

"I loved the play and it's great to sit here and do some people-watching afterward," Neisser said during the Sept. 8 festivities. "I've never been so cheeky!"

Observed Pat Neisser: "Aren't these sculptures great? So whimsical, and they're all inspired by theatre."

Indeed. The Meadows' trio — individually entitled The Storyteller, Upstage/Downstage and The Herald — not only enhances the site "but makes a genuine reference to the art of theatre," said David Emmes, SCR's Producing Artistic Director.

As for Nothing Sacred — directed by Martin Benson with Mary Beth Adderley, Richard Wright and Elizabeth Adderley as Honorary Producers —“Its issues are regrettably timeless," observed Emmes.  "This is a play about social justice, class differentiation.  And arguably, in our country, there are growing inequities—great wealth and great poverty with a disappearing middle class. This play is timely in a theatrically interesting way."

For Benson, SCR Artistic Director, the play — set in 1860s Russia — was one "SCR has wanted to do for a long time," he said. "And it's time just came." Timing for the production was inspired by the Orange County Performing Arts Center's upcoming Marinsky Festival (October 6-11) featuring the Kirov Orchestra, SCR Board President Larry Higby observed during his stage remarks.

Also on tap for guests: the chance to schmooze with the play's stars, who included Daniel Blinkoff (playing Arkady Kirsanov); Richard Doyle (Nikolai Kirsanov); Jeremy Guskin (Gregor), Khrystyne Haje (Anna Odintsov), Eric D. Steinberg (Yevgeny Bazarov) and John Vickery (Pavel Kirsanov).   "I tried out for (Martin Benson) in Manhattan—I live in Manhattan," said Haje, who, in the production, sported some of the most fetching costumes to ever tease a spotlight (highly detailed silver and scarlet gowns in rustling silk). "My character has to wear a corset. I think we should create a movement to bring them back! There's nothing like the feeling of being cinched up in all the right places."

Joe and Judy Rosener, Bob Hovee	Ralph and Sue Stern, Marc Levin and Heidy Ford, Dee Higby
Ralph Stern, Larry and Dee Higby, actor Eric D. Steinberg, Sue Stern	Elaine Weinberg, Actor Daniel Blinkoff, Keren Weinberg
Honorary Producer David White of Haskell & White, LLP, actor Jeff Marlow and Illa White	Honorary Producer Mary Beth Adderley, Director Martin Benson, David Emmes, actor Eric D. Steinberg
Keren Weinberg and Actor Isaac Nippert	Jason Meadow's Storyteller