Square One Theatre to present Grodin play

Written by Richard Pheneger
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 14:37

by Richard Pheneger

Square One Theatre Company

Square One Theatre celebrates its 20th Anniversary Season with the opening of Charles Grodin’s The Right Kind of People, described by The New York Times as “A portrait of the pettiness of the rich defending their real estate,” while The Wall Street Journal said “If it’s dish you’re looking for, Charles Grodin serves it up juicy. Somehow one doubts that he will be returning to Fifth Avenue anytime this century.”

The Right Kind of People opens at Square One Theatre on Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. and continues with evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. matineess on Sundays through Nov. 21 at the Stratford Theatre, at 2422 Main Street in Stratford.

Playwright Charles Grodin, a Wilton resident, will join the cast, director and crew for a special post-performance talkback with the audience following the 4pm twilight matinee on Saturday, Nov. 21.

While serving on a New York City Fifth Avenue co-op apartment board for several years in the 80s and 90s, Mr. Grodin observed a board member casually commenting that a prospective buyer clearly bought his clothes off the rack. When Grodin responded, “I get my clothes off the rack” and the board member responded “I know,” the idea of this play was born. Some parts of The Right Kind of People were actually witnessed and even more comes from research from brokers and real estate attorneys in New York City. All of the board positions depicted are real and while it takes place in a New York City Fifth Avenue co-op board, the play reflects the same biases found in private organizations throughout the United States. The New York Post called it “Great Fun! Charles Grodin deliciously skewers that snootiness and prejudices of upper East Side apartment co-op boards” and Newsday dubbed it “A neatly observed satire about smug old money on Fifth Avenue.” The Right Kind of People played to sold-out houses during its New York engagement and did the same in San Francisco where there are very few co-op apartments.

Tickets are $20 for single adults, $19 for senior citizens and students. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 203-375-8778.

In addition to presenting The Right Kind of People, Square One Theatre will be showing a Charles Grodin double-feature of “Midnight Run” and “The Heartbreak Kid” on Saturday, Nov. 14 beginning at noon. The double feature will be free to subscribers and $5 for non-subscribers. Information: www.squareonetheatre.com.