PACE — The Panhandle Community Theatre presents "Lost In Yonkers," written by Neil Simon and directed by Gail Ready, July 16-19 and 23-26. Performances are 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.
The cast includes these Northwest Florida residents, listed after their characters' names:
•Grandma Kurnitz, Donna Quinn
•Eddie, Ken Armitage
•Bella, Bonnie Marks
•Louie, Joe Perna
•Gert, Rebecca Frazier
•Jay, Logan Locklear
•Arty, Andrew Mathews
In Brooklyn, 1942, Evelyn Kurnitz has just died following a lengthy illness. Her husband, Eddie Kurnitz, needs to take a job as a traveling salesman to pay off the medical bills incurred, and asks his stern, straight-talking mother if his two early-teen sons, Jay and Arty, can live with her and their Aunt Bella Kurnitz in Yonkers. She reluctantly agrees.
Jay and Arty don't like their new living situation; they're afraid of their Grandma, and find it difficult to relate to their crazy Aunt Bella, whose slow mental state is manifested by perpetual excitability and a short attention span, which outwardly comes across as a childlike demeanor.
Into their collective lives returns one of Eddie and Bella's other siblings, Louie Kurnitz, a henchman for some gangsters. He is hiding out from Hollywood Harry, who wants what Louie stole and is hiding in his small black bag.
Jay and Arty's mission becomes how to make money fast so that they can help their father and move back in together, which may entail stealing the $15,000 their Grandma has hidden somewhere.
Bella's mission is to find a way to tell the family that she wants to marry Johnny, her equally slow movie theater usher boyfriend; the two could also use $5,000 of Grandma's hidden money to open their dream restaurant.
And Louie's mission is to survive the next couple of days.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: "Lost In Yonkers," written by Neil Simon and directed by Gail Ready
WHEN: July 16-19 and 23-26; performances include evenings, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: 4646 Woodbine Road, Pace. Call 221-7599 for directions and more details.
COST: Tickets are $15 each. Order at www.panhandlecommunitytheatre.com/reservations.html
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pace theater schedules 'Lost in Yonkers' performances