Theatre Palisades’ British Farce ‘Cash on Delivery’ Opens June 4

The British are coming, the British are coming! British farce, that is. When Michael Cooney’s ‘Cash on Delivery’ opens on Friday, June 4”courtesy of Theatre Palisades at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Drive”expect a silly good time, says co-producer Martha Hunter. ‘It is a show to just come and laugh and forget the cares of the world,’ Hunter tells the Palisadian-Post. ‘Cash on Delivery’ stars Kelly London, Yvonne Robertson, Dylan Seaton, Philip Bartolf, Richard Little, Dena Jaquillard, Jack Coppoc, Ken Jagosz, Martha Hunter and Robin Jones. ‘We have actors coming from all directions to perform in this well-known English farce,’ Hunter says, ‘from Long Beach all the way up to Oxnard and over to Santa Clarita. Several are from Santa Monica, Playa Del Rey, Brentwood and the Valley, and four have performed at Theatre Palisades before.’ In this production directed by Sherman Wayne and produced by Hunter and Shirley Churgin, mild-mannered Eric Swan has been cheating the Social Security Department for years. What happens when a series of auditors and agents show up unexpectedly at his door? Everything! As in the farce tradition, ‘Cash’ moves at breakneck speed, as complications and misunderstandings tangle and multiply. Author Cooney is a London-raised playwright who currently lives with his wife, Danielle, in Los Angeles, where he also works as a screenwriter (‘Jack Frost’). Other plays by Cooney include ‘Point of Death’ and ‘The Dark Side.’ Cooney’s father, Ray Cooney, was a renowned playwright also known for his farces. ‘We try to have a farce every season since our audience love them,’ Hunter says. ‘We found this one extremely funny with 10 zany characters and very exciting yet challenging special effects. Just reading the play makes people laugh out loud. It is very ‘Fawlty Towers.” As is de rigueur with the farce genre, the comedy is physically demanding on its cast. ‘The rehearsals have been intense and all of the actors have been willing to do almost anything that Sherman throws at us,’ Hunter says. ‘Timing is crucial in any play but especially in a farce. Many of the actors have performed in farces before and love doing them, albeit difficult.’ In addition to directing, Sherman is the set designer, set builder and lighting designer. This particular play presented a unique challenge to the Theatre Palisades veteran. ‘The special effects are very difficult to do,’ Wayne says. ‘It’d be easier on a movie set. We can’t tell you what they are, but when people come and see the show, they will be amazed.’ Wayne and Hunter encourage lovers of broad comedy to come down and enjoy. ‘This is really a family-friendly play although with some innocent sexual innuendos,’ Hunter says. ‘It is really non-stop fun and pretty silly.’ ‘Cash on Delivery’ runs through July 11, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: Friday and Sunday: Adults $16, seniors and students $1; Saturday: Adults $18, seniors and students $16. Free parking. For reservations, call 310-454-1970; visit www.theatrepalisades.org