‘The Amateurs’ to be presented by Players of the Stage
BY SUSAN BRYANT
Players of the Stage, a nonprofit youth theater group, will present “The Amateurs” April 19 and 20 at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, Lower Macungie Township.
“The Amateurs,” an adaptation of Joseph Kendrick Bangs’ one-acts by Sharon Noel, artistic director with Players of the Stage, tells the story of a group of friends trying their hand at bicycling, theatrics and love.
Grace Buddenhagen, who portrays Mrs. Perkins, commented on her character.
“Mrs. Perkins is sort of a motherly figure in the group,” Buddenhagen said. “She is very emotional and cares very deeply about her friends, their lives and their well-being, but sometimes she can be a little too dramatic about it all.
“But at her core, she is also a woman who desperately needs a break from life.
She finds some reprieve in acting though, even though she is not the greatest!”
Buddenhagen said the more she acts, the more she feels the character.
“I’m learning more and more about how Mrs. Perkins moves and feels and looks, and it’s really fun,” she said.
Luke Buonanno, who plays Mr. (Thaddeus) Perkins, and Josiah Daniel, who portrays Bob Yardsley, discussed their roles.
“My character is quite frankly childlike,” Buonanno said. “My goals in most scenes are simple, to get attention from other characters, and have things my way.
“I revel in others’ mistakes that make me look better and am annoyed by things that detract attention from me.”
He said a great deal of his lines elicit laughs, and Mr. Perkins is very dramatic which makes even the physicality of the role unique.
Daniel said Yardsley is basically the leader in a lot of the activities the Amateurs go through, and Yardsley feels his best when he’s at the center of things and directing other people.
“But depending on the situation, he can turn from an assertive leader to a tense man,” Daniel said. “I like Yardsley’s confidence in things he’s familiar with, but his nervousness in things that might be slightly out of his control since it relates a lot to me.
“I also like his quick thinking and social skills that he has with people.”
“The Amateurs” is directed by Noel with Amber Cade serving as assistant director.
“This play is about a group of friends experiencing life together and growing through a series of mishaps and successes,” Noel stated.
“Based on several one acts written by Joseph Kendrick Bangs, I adapted the three, one acts to flow more cohesively as a full-length play.”
Noel discussed why they chose to perform “The Amateurs.”
“We had several seniors who we wanted to get a chance to shine,” Noel said. “This show has a strong ensemble cast which gives everyone something fun to do.”
Noel spoke of her time with Players of the Stage and God’s hands over them.
“I thank God for what He has done in and through POTS, taking us from a small group of our kind of “Amateurs” to a serious teaching theater.
“I am continually amazed He used our group to touch so many lives through acting and to raise so much money to help relieve suffering in our community.
“He is the Master Playwright, and I am grateful He allowed us to participate in His story through theater.”
Elisabeth Barshinger, POTS founder and production manager, is retiring after this show.
“The Amateurs” will be the theater group’s last performance at Living Hope Presbyterian Church.
“It is the end of an era,” she said. “We founded the theater almost 24 years ago, and now this is our last show.
“I am going to miss the children so much, but I am almost 69 years old, and it is a new season of life.”
“The Amateurs” will be performed 7 p.m. April 19 and 20; and at 2 p.m. April 20; at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, 330 Schantz Road, Lower Macungie.
In lieu of an admission fee, a freewill offering will be taken to benefit Bloom, a nonprofit that provides shelter and rehabilitation to women who have been victims of sex-trafficking.
Reservations are required for all performances. To reserve tickets, go to playersofthestage.org or email potstickets@gmail.com.
For more information about Players of the Stage, visit playersofthestage.com.