Flowertown Players Dial Up the Funny In Erratic Adult Comedy

Jeff Walker, Entertainment Writer

Andrew Bergman's play 'Social Security' has been a favorite among community theatres since its 1986 debut at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City. With the right actors this adult comedy is a non stop romp from start to finish incorporating lifestyles of a rebellious kid, an aging parent, and two set in their ways baby boomer couples facing mid-life challenges as well as sibling rivalries.

Flowertown Players at Summerville Community Theatre bring all the right stuff. With veteran lowcountry actor Susie Hallatt sitting in the director's chair Flowertown Players knock 'Social Security' out of the theatrical park. A half dozen ensemble cast members work wonderfully and effortlessly together, providing the audience two hours of shear frivolity.  

Manhattan couple Barbara and David live a pristine life, dealing in the high profile art world. However, their world is turned upside down when Barbara's prudish sister Trudy and her equally uptight CPA husband Martin show up on their doorstep, leaving Sophie, the sister's aging mother behind, while Barbara and Martin set out for Buffalo to prevent their freshman college daughter from becoming sexually over active.  Kudos to Hallatt for casting the actors for their respective roles. While everyone play off each other marvelously, the pairings are sublime.

Pat Cullinane and David Moon are simply divine as the upscale highbrow couple living their sophisticated apartment life in midtown Manhattan, surrounded by high priced pretentious art. Cullinane plays Barbara to a tee, invoking equal amounts of zeal and neuroticism in the role. Moon is her perfect counterpart, depicting art enthusiast David both as smarmy and flippant. Their scenes together are astonishing.

On the flip side of the theatrical coin, Barry Gordon and Heather Rivet are justly suited as Martin and Trudy, a ill-humored puritan husband and wife living a mundane suburban life on Long Island. Rivet steps nicely into the shoes of Trudy portraying her as the prudish sister who has exceeded her maternal boiling point.

Gordon depicts Martin admirably as the determined yet bookish accountant hell bent to saving his little girl from being a pawn in her self described sexual chess game. His accounts of how Martin's daughter finds pleasure in providing oral pleasure to the two young men she's living with is pure comedic brilliance, with his dialogue allowing for some of the most raucous laughter from the audience.

Arlena Withers has been acting most of her life, mostly in Luxembourg before finding her way to the Carolinas. She was familiar with the role of Sophie, having donned her housecoat in the same production with Cane Bay Productions. Withers is an absolute delight guiding the presumably feeble mother from cranky to saucy and pert all in the second act. She's charmingly imposing as a troublesome senior citizen who sheds her walker and drab attire to discover her sensual pilot light has been re-lit.

In a smaller yet pivotal role, Chuck Miller turns in a admirable performance as Maurice Koenig, a renowned artist Barbara and David are fawning over, all along finding he has more in common with Sophie, helping her break free from the stereotype her daughters have painted, rekindling Sophie's zest for life in her golden years. Miller plays Maurice equally as attentive and aloof. Wonderfully done and a nice addition to an amusing production overall.

Kudos to Julia Sorenson and Jason Olson for offering up warm and welcome decor, portraying Barbara and David's apartment as an inviting upper class home. Congrats to all who took part in bringing 'Social Security' to life with Flowertown Players. The set design and costumes nicely depicted the mid 1980's including David's homage to 'Miami Vice' in the opening scene. Bravo!

If you're not put off by a mildly adult comedy that includes sexual innuendo and a few choice words, than 'Social Security' will have you entertained for two hours at the Summerville Community Theatre. This production is well worth your hard earned dollar, and proof that actors over 50 still can light up a stage and send you away laughing and with a smile. Strongly recommend this production which plays weekends thru Oct 29th. For more visit https://www.flowertownplayers.org/social-security/