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Show ISob Toy brings an actor's-eye view to directing stint for 'Plaza Suite' ir ri i ' -H' Jit '' ' '; I' - , . -'e .: . r ' :J'I : "v. A ' ' ' -XL'.V;. ' I - I J , vi i - ,"V. - - i I III vX'-Lr- I by RICK BROUGH -Record staff writer ' Park City resident Bob Toy said that in his work on "Plaza Suite," he has been one of the more benevolent directors for Park City Performances. Perfor-mances. That's not because of any special virtues, he will tell you. It's because he's been in the position of the actor himself. Toy hasn't counted the exact number of Park City plays he's been in. But they number about a dozen, including "Harvey," "This is the Place," "Deadwood Dick," "Oliver" and "Applause." Directing is something he wanted to do for a long time, he said. So he grabbed the chance to co-direct Neil Simon's play, "Plaza Suite," with another first-time director, Karri Hays. The play opens this Friday at the Egyptian Theatre. . Toy said he is seeking to use what he's seen as an actor of good directors direc-tors and bad directors. "I am trying to learn from the bad and embellish the good." 'f The Simon play consists of three stories set in the same suite in New York's Plaza Hotel. The play; said Toy, is "very serious with a lot of one-liners thrown in." , ' . The first story, he said, is heavy drama with a little comedy thrown in as a vehicle. It's the story of a married couple (played by Jere Calmes and Lori Groll) returning to the hotel where they honeymooned 24 years ago, but finding they have grown apart. V The situation is complicated by the husband's younger, newly divorced secretary (Maree Plunkett). The second story is about a " Hollywood producer (Dick Mitchell) who's been through the mill and meets again the woman (Jossy Sheya) who has idolized him since high school. This episode, Toy said, is a satire "oft the human condition, showing two people who are basically foolish. He also says the episode here has a "very sexy" ending. Something sensual awaits at the end of this scene in 'Plaza Suite' with Dick Mitchell and Jossy Sheya, said director' Bob Toy! It should also be noted that Sheya, only joined the cast last week. She replaced an actress who had to drop out of the play due to scheduling difficulties, dif-ficulties, Toy said. He praised Sheya for learning the role and shaping a : performance in little time. . The third story is about a wedding : day where the bride's parents XRai French, Madeline Smith) find their daughter has locked herself in the bathroom. , ' ; ''" French and Smith look great together, Toy said, and the sketch has more action and slapstick pom-pared pom-pared to the other two plays. But it also is a serious story about "two people and what they can do to each . other and their kids." .- The director said he has the best cast of any Egyptian production. French, Groll, Smith and Mitchell have been in professional productions. produc-tions. Mitchell and Sheya played Simon before, in the 1982 production of "Chapter Two" produced by In-termountain In-termountain Actors Ensemble. And Jere Calmes has essayed many roles in Park City, including Felix in "The Odd Couple." By working with co-director Karri Hays, he said, the results have been greater than the sum of their parts. Their goal, he said, has been to carry the audience out of Park City to New York, to make the play as believable as possible. "We work very hard to make it as easy as possible," he said. He also hopes the trappings of the production will evoke New York. At this writing, his wife, Jackie, is attending at-tending a New York trade show, he said, and is trying to "borrow, beg or buy" artifacts from the Plaza Hotel, whether they be ashtrays, matches or soap. And set designer Sheila Haloff, he noted, has actually spent a night in the Plaza. The production plays Dec. 6-7 and 12-14. For information on tickets, call the Kimball Art Center or Pam at the Egyptian Theatre, 6499371. Curtain time is 8 p.m. |