The Fur Flies in "Not Now, Darling" at Conklin's
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 by Pat Gaik
Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre happily announces the opening of the outrageous adult comedy “Not Now, Darling” starring audience favorites Bob Lane Jr., Mary Simon and Pat Gaik on September 16 and playing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday brunches through November 7.
“Not Now, Darling!” is by the winning team of Ray Cooney and John Chapman and was a huge hit in London’s West End and on Broadway. The scene is the exclusive fur salon of Bodley, Bodley and Crouch, where Crouch struggles to keep things going despite the energetic philandering of his partner. At the moment, Bodley is trying to secure the affections of his latest would-be mistress by selling her husband an expensive fur coat for a fraction of its real worth. But, as luck would have it, the husband seizes the bargain coat as the perfect gift for his own mistress—whereupon the complications explode uproariously, with poor Crouch caught in the middle. Suspicious wives, mistaken identities, scantily clad girls hiding in closets and a continuous barrage of rapid fire jokes keeps the play bubbling along merrily right up to the end.
Barn favorite Bob Lane Jr. plays the irrepressible Gilbert Bodley and he teams up with Pat Gaik as Arnold Crouch, with Mary Simon as Mrs. Bodley. The large company also includes Dan Challacombe as Harry McMichael, Miranda Axsom as his wife Janey, who also happens to be Bodley’s girlfriend, Sara Flanders as the firm’s secretary Miss Tipdale, April Wyant as Sue Lawson, Harry’s secretary and girlfriend, John Johnson as her husband, Peoria’s Lana Warner in a hilarious cameo appearance as flustered customer Mrs. Frencham, Tom Weber as her husband Commander Frencham and newcomer Kerri Ann Hinman as model Miss Whittington
The production is directed by Mary Simon. Set design is by Tom Weber, technical direction is by April Wyant, and publicity is by Pat Gaik. Conklin’s Barn II is known for its delicious buffet which, on evening performances, includes four main entrees featuring the Barn’s renowned prime rib and fried chicken, with salad, homemade soup and cheese spread, and a choice of four taste-tempting, homemade desserts. Prices for dinner and show are $31.00 on Thursday evenings, $33.00 on Friday evening and Sunday brunch, and $35.00 on Saturday evening, including tax. No advance payment is required. Conklin’s is also BYOB for wine, beer or cocktails. Glasses, ice and ice buckets are provided at no extra charge.
For information or reservations, call the box office at 309-965-2545 or visit Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre.
