The current show at the Newport Playhouse is a series of five vignettes called "Love and Marriage". The five one acts are as follows, She Needs Me, Whatever You Say, I'm Herbert, Hello, Ma and "What's the Story Richie?. Directed by theatre veteran, Matt Siravo, the shows blend into each other wonderfully with his expert guidance.

Cindy Killavey does double duty as the supposedly arthritic Sylvia in the first show. She and Henryce Zannini are excellent as bickering friends. Sylvia wants her friend to go to Florida on vacation leaving her daughter to fend for herself. Sardine sandwiches and the Heimlich maneuver are a couple of the laugh out loud moments in this show. The second show stars John Moreau and Lynn Swanson as the bickering couple who are celebrating their fortieth anniversary. She wants an engagement that he never got her but promised her when he made enough money. Married couples in the audience could definitely relate to this situation. Cindy and her real life husband Jim star as a very aged couple who keep calling each other by the wrong names constantly which leads to long stretches of laughter. Fantastic job!

The fourth show is about a mother and daughter played wonderfully by Nancy Pinto and Melanie Snow. Dee, the daughter wants advice on who to marry. Should she marry for love or money? She ignores her mother's advice and does what she wants. So to get even her mother proclaims she is marrying her longtime beau, Sal. Matt and Sandra Nicastro star in the last show which is hysterical. It is about an Italian family where the mother, Bea constantly cooks and waits on her husband, hand and foot. Their son, Richie wants to divorce his wife, Joan. (Played delightfully by Jon Perry and Kim Stamoulis) Frank, the father tries to get the story from the kids about what is happening. Richie forgot her birthday and Frank solves all the problems. Bea explains that divorce never took place in her family and that she never enjoyed sex. Because she was a virgin, Frank raped her on her wedding night but that was alright with her because it was his sacred erotic right. The expressions and movements by Sandra are hilarious and cap off the evening with merriment. An all you can eat buffet takes place before the show and a fun filled cabaret afterwards. So for a topnotch evening of entertainment, catch this show before time runs out.

"Love & Marriage" ( 22 February to 30 March, 2008)
Newport Playhouse. 104 Connell Highway, Newport, RI
1 (401) 848-7529 or www.newportplayhouse.com

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