See Tim Collins in ‘Communicating Doors’ Comedy

I don’t know about you, but about this time of the winter, I could use an escape, and a few laughs.

That’s why I’m inviting you to come out to the Great Escape Stage Company’s British Sci-Fi comedy “Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn.

My wife Debbie are both in it, along with our friend Alan Elliot and some new friends, too.

Great Escape artistic director, Randy Lake says, “Communicating Doors” is an imaginative comic tour de force where “Back to the Future” meets Alfred Hitchcock.

Award-winning playwright Alan Ayckbourn is one of Britain’s most prolific playwrights, with works performed around the globe for the past 40 years. Because of his prodigious output and commercial success, he is often called the “English Neil Simon.”

The story is a little crazy, but it won’t matter in the least! A sweet-tempered dominatrix and a resourceful stranger each threatened by an ingenious murderer, escape through the hotel suite’s "communicating doors" and are transported back in time to outwit their pursuer.

The comedic thriller features three strong and distinctly different actresses in the lead roles:

• Callie Bussell (last seen in GESC’s THE CRUCIBLE) as Poopay.
• Debbie Culver (GREYGARDENS) as Ruella.
• Karen York (IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE) as Jessica.

The men in the show include:

• Caleb Knutson (THE CRUCIBLE) as Julian.
• Alan Elliott(DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS) as Reece
• Tim Collins (IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE) as Harold.

Tickets are $15 each (cash or check at the door).

According to Lake, “Communicating Doors has all the Ayckbourn virtues of wonderful roles, wonderful comedy and thought provoking themes, wrapped up in a highly theatrical idea. On one level it's an 'old dark house' thriller where women in their nightclothes are failing to turn on the lights even though they know there is something in the dark that means them harm. On another level, it is Ruella and Phoebe's developing friendship and their joining forces against the dark. And then it's a comedy too - but the comedy grows out of the tension of the thriller element.  So it's a romance, a comedy, AND a sci-fi adventure story!"

Communicating Doors plays now through Sunday, March 8. Hear complete performance details and make ticket reservations by calling the box office at 269-781-2700 at any time.  Great Escape Stage Company is a small professional 501(c)(3) theatre located at155 West Michigan Avenue in Historic Downtown Marshall.

• Thursday 2/26 - 8:00 PM
• Friday 2/27 - 8:00 PM
• Saturday 2/28 - 8:00 PM
• Sunday 3/1 - 3:00 PM

• Thursday 3/5 - 8:00 PM
• Friday 3/6 - 8:00 PM
• Saturday 3/7 - 8:00 PM
• Sunday 3/8 - 3:00 PM