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Voices Put Ideas In His Head

KATHY MOORE/STAFF

"Jake's Women" cast members Bob Stanley, right, as Jake, and Rebecca Doyle-Wallis, right, as Sheila, rehearse a scene Tuesday evening October 16, 2007, at the Masque Community Theatre.

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2007

Updated: 10/22/2007 06:44 pm

TEMPLE TERRACE - Masque Community Theatre members describe Neil Simon's 'Jake's Women' as a play about relationships. They consider the title character neurotic, narcissistic and controlling.

Veteran Masque actor Bob Stanley jumped at the chance to play the part.

'In some ways, I relate to Jake,' Stanley said. 'I tend to have an overactive imagination. At times, I can be self-centered. Sometimes, I kind of want to control things. Still, I think I'm more reasonable than he is.'

Masque's production of 'Jake's Women' opens at 8 p.m. Friday. The play's plot is straightforward. Jake, upset by a failing marriage, consults various women in his life.

The quirky part: Most of the conversations take place in his mind.

The eight-member cast includes Stanley, Ruth Kegel, Judith Sachs, Rebecca Doyle-Wallis, Claire Grissom, Margaret Mitchell, Madison LoPinto and Kayleigh Mollycheck.

Director Mary Jean Neale said audiences can expect a fun evening.

'Neil Simon is funny and hits real life on the head,' she said.

Real life almost prevented Neale from directing the play. She first held auditions in January, with an opening night planned for spring. Then she broke her arm, and the production was put on hold. She opted not to give the play to another a director.

Rehearsals resumed in August, but several parts were recast. Fortunately, Stanley remained onboard. Neale, who previously directed Stanley in Masque's production of 'Harvey,' considers the actor a great comedic talent.

'He just fits the character of Jake,' Neale said. 'He's able to capture the spirit of it.'

Stanley doesn't mind being the only male in the cast.

'I like all the women in the play,' he said with a smile. 'They're good to work with. I don't have difficulty with women like Jake does.'

Each female character plays a vital role on Jake's introspective journey. They offer advice and, at times, criticism. Still, Jake distances himself emotionally.

Mollycheck plays the older version of Jake's daughter Molly.

'She's a voice of reason for him,' Mollycheck said.

Sachs portrays Jake's lonely sister Karen.

'She's a bit of buttinsky, and she's very worried about her brother,' Sachs said.

Few of the female characters appear onstage at the same time. Instead, they appear in the form of fantasies and flashbacks, during which Jake communicates with them one-on-one. Still, the actresses take inspiration from one another's performances.

'We're all in Jake's head, so we have to play off one another,' Sachs said. 'We work well together.'

The characters' distinct personalities affect Jake in different ways.

'I play Edith, the bad-tempered psychiatrist,' Mitchell said. 'She keeps trying to tell Jake how to straighten his life out.'

To capture the chaos of Jake's life, Neale called on 'Harvey' set designer James Michael. Michael used vivid colors and wacky decorations to depict Jake's bachelor pad. Red and yellow walls provide a backdrop for black-leather furniture and a funky wet bar.

Richard Saunders is in charge of lighting for the production, and Virginia Grissom is in charge of costumes. Both hope their work will add to the play's modern feel and complement Jake's eccentric personality.

'Part of the theater experience is putting up a fantasy for people to enjoy,' Neale said.

The cast and crew are anticipating opening night.

'I'm hoping for a smashing show,' Mitchell said.

Stanley, who will perform seven monologues, has a more specific goal in mind.

'I hope we all remember our lines,' he said.

Stanley won't reveal whether Jake's life does work out, but he promises audiences will leave having learned something.

'There's a lot of food for thought in the play,' he said. 'The message is not to take people for granted. There needs to be mutual respect in relationships.'

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Masque Community Theatre presents 'Jake's Women'

WHERE: Masque Community Theatre, 8825 N. 56th St.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 11

HOW MUCH: $14 for ages 13 to 54; $12 for ages 55 and older, students with ID and members of the military; and $10 for ages 12 and younger.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 980-3321.

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813) 865-4845 or srothwell @tampatrib.com.

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