Azuay Community Theater presents Kalamazoo, a romantic comedy in time for Valentine’s weekend

By Kate Marin Wohlfeld

You are never too old to feel young again! Azuay Community Theater celebrates Valentine’s weekend with the sparkling, modern comedy, Kalamazoo, about two seniors finding love again. Written by a team of award-winning playwrights, Michelle Kholos Brooks & Kelly Younger, it is directed by Jeanne Mccafferty and features the consummate ACT company members Cody Hamilton and Bob Hay. Performances are February 13, 14, 15 and 16.

Cody Hamilton and Bob Hay in Kalamazoo.

Tickets and details are available at www.actseats.com

Does dating get any easier after 60?
Kalamazoo follows the blossoming romance between Peg and Irving, two eccentric and endearing baby-boomers, who bravely venture into the world of modern dating. But they discover love isn’t any easier the second time around. Kalamazoo is a romantic comedy about life’s second act. Everybody, regardless of their age, finds the show relatable to their own dating experience.

Irving quotes his Rabbi who sums up one of the show’s important themes: “Life is abundant, Irving. You’re never too old to feel young again.” And Irving and Peg’s love story reveals just how true that is.

A Bumpy Road to Second Chances
From the start, audiences find themselves rooting for this mismatched pair to make it. They share laughs, compare decades of odd experiences and ultimately find a meaningful connection. Their conversations across 8 different settings take us over plenty of comical bumps including a disagreement about the pros and cons of pineapple upside down cake and the impact of Peg’s interfering children.

The actors and director comment on the show’s humor and dynamics. Bob Hay, who plays Irving, says, “Kalamazoo isn’t just funny. It’s a touching story of two widowers who discover how loving someone new does not diminish the love that you still have for your deceased spouse.”

And Irving is a funny, Jewish guy. We meet him as he answers his first ever dating questionnaire and get a first glimpse of his sharp wit and infectious sense of mischief which shines through despite the recent loss of his wife to cancer. Quoting the questionnaire then answering it, he says, “What is your idea of a perfect date? Straight into the sack. No. Just kidding…..You want me, you get my dopey sense of humor.”

Peg is endearing and quirky. Unlike Irving, she is a devout Catholic, with an existing social life built around her church, and five kids. Devout yes, but stern and serious, absolutely not! At one point, Peg tells Irving, “I have five wonderful daughters…well four…”

Actor Cody Hamilton, remarks on Peg’s transformation: “For me as an actor, finding Peg’s character has been about escaping the restraints of her past, a life filled with expectations from others and the response of being a mother and grandmother… and finding the fun and happy person inside of her that she has hidden away.”

Director Jeanne McCafferty shares, “I fell in love with this play as soon as I read it, and I think the audience will as well. When I found myself still laughing hours – and days – later, I knew I wanted to direct it. I fell in love with Peg and Irv, too, and I think the audience will as well.”

Kudos for Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo has been well-received by both critics and audiences alike: Theatermania praised it as “a smart, funny, and deeply human exploration of modern relationships,” and the New York Times wrote “The play’s greatest strength is the way it handles the intersection of humor and humanity.”

ShowTimes and Tickets
All shows start promptly at 3pm on February 13, 14, 15 and 16. The start time is set so guests will have time to make their way home or to dinner in daylight.

Some recent ACT’s shows have sold out. And with just 50 seats and only four performances, ACT recommends patrons purchase tickets early to secure their preferred date by visiting the theater’s website www.actseats.com.

About ACT
ACT is Cuenca’s only English-language theater since its founding in 2014. With the support of the expat and Cuenca community, the theater has grown rapidly over recent years, attracting many new onstage and backstage company members. It is now in its third complete season of 6 shows. Productions are held in a permanent, updated theater space including a spacious lobby with a cash bar which opens at 2pm for drinks, snacks and socializing.

ACT is easily accessible
The theater is located in El Centro, Cuenca at Antonio Vega Muñoz 14-46 between Coronel Tálbot and Estévez de Toral. There are no stairs to navigate and free parking is available in the lot behind the theater. It is also close to several Tranvía stops with buses serving Antonio Vega Muñoz continuously. The Google map location appears on the website at www.actseats.com.