Mary Beth Evans
“All This and Moonlight”
The Beverly Hills Playhouse
Recapped by nicholsevansfan…
Setting:
The Beverly Hills Playhouse is a small theatre with an intimate ambiance. The set for the play: a bachelor’s apartment living room furnished with a couch, a coffee table, a dinner table, and a small cabinet. On the table is a basket of fruits and vegetables.
The Plotline:
Ned (played by Timothy Dale Agee) can’t seem to get over his high school sweetheart Ellie (Mary Beth). After High School, Ellie had headed for Hollywood to become an actress, leaving Ned behind to pursue of her career. Ned went on with his life and became a professional photographer: but “visions” of Ellie kept popping up in the middle of all his dates, pointing out the flaws of the women he went out with. The production satirized the horrors of dating through Ned’s encounter’s with women, like Andrea (Denise Gentile), who doesn’t like food that grows from under the ground or above the ground, is a vegetarian, avoids preservatives, is allergic to melons and yeast, and only drinks bottled, purified water. One of the funniest moments in the play was when “Ellie” (the vision) asked Ned, “What does she have on Thanksgiving, the ceremonial pickle?” Line after line was a blend of sarcasm and humor. Ned dated different women and his image of Ellie became more and more “perfect” and less and less natural. Eventually, at his High School reunion, he had a natural letdown when he met the real Ellie again. This play was about the unrealistic expectations and fantasies that can steer us wrong.
Mary Beth stole the show with her uncanny comedic timing, quick wit, and consistent, contagious energy. The play could have been confusing as to who was the *real* Ellie and who was the Ellie in Ned’s “visions”, if weren’t for Mary Beth’s ability to incorporate subtle differences between the two. Ellie was vibrant and charged in Ned’s imagination- she was still his High School love. The real, adult Ellie was mature, reserved, and distant with Ned.
After the play:
My mom, a couple of friends of mine, and I were able to talk to Mary Beth briefly after the play. (She had to get home to her kids since it was late at night). She was very sweet and signed autographs and posed for pictures. We all liked her short haircut, and we all agreed (once Mary Beth had left) that she was so much more beautiful in person. We had a great time, and Mary Beth gave a great performance. The play was entertaining and fun!
Mary Beth and cast members after the play Stephen comes to see Mary Beth in the play
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