Humor, sadness mingle in ‘Impossible Marriage’

Marissa Rex as Floral, left, and Barbara Barkan as her mother, Kandall, rehearse a scene for the Village Players' production of 'Impossible Marriage.'

The Village Players will close its 2012-2013 season with a reflection of love this weekend in Impossible Marriage.

“The play really moves very skillfully between moments that are really funny and kind of quirky and then moments that are sad. I think love is somewhat like that. There are a lot of ups and a few downs, and you can’t really separate it out; it’s the whole package,” said director Matthew Gretzinger.

This comedy appears to be about the young Pandora Kingsley, played by Ashley Gage, who is to wed the more worldly and much older Edvard Lunt, played by David Engel. The audience will soon realize there are many other stories taking center stage when Pandora's pregnant sister Floral Whitman, played by Marissa Rex, plots to break off her sister's marriage and their mother Kandall Kingsley, played by Barbara Barkan, deems the match unsuitable.

Gretzinger believes the audience will find this Beth Henley play charming. “It kind of has a sweet and nostalgic feeling. Depending on where they are in life, it will get them thinking about love and have that kind of sweet reflection.”

“Impossible Marriage” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday through May 25 at the theater, 2740 Upton Ave. Additional performances will be at 8 p.m. May 16 and May 23 with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. May 19. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. Information: 419-472-6817 or thevillageplayers.org.

Woods Wandering

A baker and his wife are on a quest to undo a witch’s curse this weekend when Bedford Community Players presents Into the Woods at Bedford High School.

Brothers Grimm fairy tale characters combine to tell this magical story of consequences for getting and for not getting one’s desires. This Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical won two 1988 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score.

It opened on Broadway in November, 1987, and closed in September, 1989, after 765 performances. It also had two revivals, one in 1997 and the other in 2002.

“Into the Woods” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday by Bedford Community Players at Bedford High School Auditorium, 8285 Jackman Rd., Temperance. Tickets are $15 for adults and $14 for seniors 60 and older and students. Information: 734-850-6069.

Bridesmaid Bunch

TIFFIN — A group of five identically dressed bridesmaids huddle in a bathroom this weekend as Ritz Players presents Five Women Wearing the Same Dress at the Ritz Theatre.

The reluctant bridesmaids find a common bond in this funny and irreverent comedy celebration of women's spirit.

“Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and May 18 with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. May 19 at the Ritz Theatre National Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin. Tickets are $11 for adults and $7 for students. Information: 448-8544 or ritztheatre.org.

Please send theater items at least two weeks in advance to jnjaim@theblade.com.