A Caledon premier of 'The Perfect Manhattan'

Photo by Desiree Neville This is the cast of the Caledon Townhall Players' production of The Perfect Manhattan.

The Caledon Townhall Players presents the Caledon debut of The Perfect Manhattan.

This sparkling, awardwinning comedy is an original play by local playwright and member of The Caledon Townhall Players, Dianne Lococo. A resident of Mono, Dianne is a prolific writer who is currently completing her sixth play. She derives many of her creative ideas from random events in her life and chance encounters.

The inspiration for The Perfect Manhattan arose from a conversation overheard at a dinner party. A guest was complaining about her "neighbours from hell" and Rocco and FifiDe Roo were born in Dianne's fertile imagination.

Rocco and Fifithe neighbours from hell in the play are actually from New Jersey. "Same thing!" quips the frazzled Madeleine, their unfortunate neighbour. The serene, upscale lifestyle, which she shares with her husband Ted in elegant Rosedale is slowly eroded by intrusive forays from this loud and aggressive couple next door.

The situation is further complicated by Madeleine's amazing secret life. She has an imaginary lover, the handsome and dashing Roderick, with whom she wiles away her afternoons while sipping the Perfect Manhattans, which he prepares for her. Her husband Ted is so absorbed with his career that he seems not to notice her rather bizarre behaviour.

A dinner party leads to murder and mayhem in this quirky tale with many twists and surprises. Fantasy and reality begin to blur as the play progresses and both Roderick and murder begin to be more substantial.

John Carter plays the suave and debonair Roderick with great élan, while Pam Cooper brings a wonderfully comic counterpoint to unfolding events as the slightly inebriated and acerbic Madeleine.

Travis Montague comes to us from Blackhorse Theatre. He plays the beleaguered Ted, Madeleine's handsome, politically savvy husband whose calm control is gradually unraveling under the relentless assaults from the neighbours next door.

The play's most endearing and irritating character, Rocco De Roo is played with cherubic charm by Andrew Miranda (last season's beloved Tito in Lend Me a Tenor). The lovely Jennifer Penz who won a Thea last year for best supporting actress as Diana the vamp in Lend Me a Tenor completes the cast as Fifi. A latter day Billie Dawn, Fifiis a smart cookie who is out to prove that the female can be deadlier than the male.

The play is directed by Marilyn Edridge co-director of last season's highly successful, Lend Me A Tenor, which achieved three Actco nominations.

The Perfect Manhattan opens Feb. 15 and runs consecutive weekends until May 3. Show times are at 8:15 and 2:15 for the Saturday matinee. Call the box office for information or check the Web site at www.caledontownhallplayers. com.