By Jody Tuso-Key — Managing Editor

Dunwoody – Stage Door Theatre opened its season to an appreciative audience with a clever comedy, THE COTTAGE by Sandy Rustin. Set in the 1920s English countryside, this show is a humorous look at marriage marred in a web of infidelity. It’s a story about two lovers, Sylvia (Charis Selleck) and Beau (Banjamin DeWitt Sims), who, for the past seven years, have secretly shared one night together every year in his mother’s cottage. The play opens to the morning after the 7th occasion, and Sylvia has decided to send telegrams to her husband and Beau’s wife disclosing their affair. Sylvia’s husband, Clarke (Jerome Manning), who also happens to be Beau’s brother, and Beau’s wife, Marjorie (Tori Thompson) who happens to be eight months pregnant. Both show up at the cottage to inform Sylvia and Beau they are madly in love and that the baby is actually Clarke’s. The plot thickens when one of Beau’s other lovers, Deidre (Kat Stoneback), arrives recently divorced and informs Beau that her ex husband, Richard (Chris Shulz), plans to kill Beau. All of these layers of hanky-panky wrapped up in clever farcical style by makes for a fun night for audiences. 

Upon entering the theater, the audience nearly steps into the living area of this well appointed cottage, adorned with turn-of-the 20th century furnishings and the matriarch of the family’s portrait above the fireplace. Set Designer Alex Whittenberg has done an excellent job creating this country getaway. Faye Manselle’s costumes are true to the time period. In addition,  lighting by Lindsey Sharpless and sound by Omari Joseph add the perfect adornment to the set and action. 

Director Damian Lockhart has assembled a cast of 6 actors that breathe amusing life into this production. While each performance was very well done, my personal favorite characters and performances were Charis Sellick as Sylvia and Kat Stoneback as Deidre. Sylvia comes across at first as hilariously overly dramatic and wildly in love, but in time displays a quick wit in the discovery that she is capable of being strong and independent. Deidre has secrets of her own and her physical humor steals the show for a bit in the second act. As this is a female-centered take on the style of Noel Cowerd’s comedy, the theme of the story centers on female empowerment. The brothers, Banjamin DeWitt Sims as Beau and Jerome Manning as Clarke play their roles expertly. Beau is the older brother and good looking philanderer. In business, he is a level-headed lawyer and expertly takes on the role as the straight man in this farce. Clarke is love-sick for Marjorie and perfectly content to be by her side. Tori Thompson as Marjorie delivers a fun performance as a cheeky, pregnant baroness who cares mostly for herself, but is devoted to moving into a new life with Clark. She has great facial expressions and a hilarious moment of physical humor. Rounding off the cast is Chris Shulz as Richard, a man who isn’t as he seems and acts as a catalyst of change in the second act. 

Stage Door theater has been a staple in Dunwoody for 54 years offering quality live theater as well as educational programs for young aspiring actors. Their mission is “to strengthen our vibrant community of patrons, artists, and youth by providing an intimate and inclusive home where shared stories and human experiences are celebrated.” THE COTTAGE runs until October 19th and is Speakeysie recommended, so get your tickets at https://stagedoortheatrega.org/