Tonight through Saturday, the Dot-based Avenue Stage (AS) Company will world-premiere a brand-new comedy “Shared Bath, Full English,” in their popular dinner theater format at the Dot 2 Dot Café. Written and directed by Michael O’Halloran, co-founder of the ensemble, this latest venture was custom-written to showcase the talents of his family and Anglophile friends.
“Shared Bath” is the third production by AS, whose mission is to produce short works in a dinner theater/café setting for the Dorchester audience. The company premiered in November 2013 with Lanford Wilson’s “A Betrothal,” and continued the journey with a production of David Storey’s “Home” in 1914.
This new comedy concerns Marsha and Cyndi – two Bostonian tourists – who meet up at a seedy bed and breakfast in London. Their teenage kids are driving them crazy, and the “Miss Marple Tour” has been a dismal failure. If only modern-day London still had some of the glamor of their beloved mystery shows!
But there’s something strange about the accent of the landlady, Mrs. Garnet. And there’s a funny smell coming from Mr. Patel’s room. Could it be that these two mystery fans will encounter a caper of their own?
There’s no need for the imagination of an Agatha Christie to figure out how this stage vehicle was plotted.
Says O’Halloran: “This production is a sort of family project, because my wife and two of my three kids are in it. We live in the Columbia/St. Margaret’s area and have for the past 17 years. Our two younger ones, Desmond and Molly, are both at Boston Latin where they have been heavily involved in theater. Desmond did a small part in last year’s production of “Home” and got a great response for some movement and circus arts stuff that he incorporated into the show.
“Mary McCarthy, my wife, and I met while doing theater at UMass Boston in the early 90s, O’Halloran said, when they were both living in Dorchester. “An actor, singer, and performance artist under the name Miss Mary Mac, she fronted the cabaret band Sukey Tawdry and played Jenny in the “Threepenny Opera,” among other things. Like myself she’s a teacher [she at Neighborhood House Charter School, he at the Edward Everett], so she hasn’t had time in recent years for performing. So, again, we thought this was a great time to work on something together with the kids.”
O’Halloran, who hasn’t had one of his own plays produced since “Bullring” in 2001, devised “Shared Bath” to keep his theatrical family and friends working together.
“I wanted a play for my family and our two main ensemble members, Jennifer Jones and Geoff Pingree,” said O’Halloran. “I couldn’t find anything of the right length and style. Based on feedback from our audiences at Dot 2 Dot, we’ve found that people enjoy a light comedy of about 30-40 minutes. They like to relax over dinner and dessert, have a glass of wine, chat, and then the one act seems to be plenty. Then they can go out afterward, or be in bed by ten if they want!”
O’Halloran graciously adds: “[Dot 2 Dot chef] Karen Henry-Garret’s food and hospitality is one of our biggest draws, and has helped us sell out almost all of our shows since we started there in 2013.”
Tickets for “Shared Bath, Full English” are priced at $27, including a two-course dinner. Dinner seating is from 6:30 to 7 p.m, with the play beginning at 7:45. Tickets may be purchased online at avenuestage.org or by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.
