[NEohioPAL]84 Charing Cross Road at Workshop Players in January

[OhMaud at aol.com]

WORKSHOP PLAYERS present 
84 CHARING CROSS ROAD

In 1949 Helene Hanff, an author in New York City, found a small ad from a London bookstore in the Saturday Review of Literature. The store, Mark and Co., was located in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Helene wrote to the London address to inquire about several books she could not find in any local bookstore. It was the start of a twenty-year correspondence. The play 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD dramatizes that correspondence.

A series of letters between a New York City writer and a bookstore in London may not seem to be much of a topic for a play. However, it is more than that. It shows us how friendships develop. As time passes Helene (played by Maud Holm) realizes the same person, Frank Doel (played by Don Wozniak) is dealing with all her letters. Helene breaks through Frank’s traditional British reserve. After that, one by one, the other members of the staff of Marks and Co. are drawn into the correspondence. 

Filling out the cast are Susan Dziama, Mara Schwenk, Matt Kiedrowski, Jan Lynch and Bill Reising. Directed by Marilyn Hubbard, this is a play for people who love books and people who love words. It’s amusing rather than hilarious, touching rather than manipulative, and in the real sense of the word, charming.

Performance dates are January 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26. All shows start at 8 pm, except for Sundays, which start at 3pm. Tickets for the show are $10.00 each and may be reserved by calling the box office at 440-988-5613. Group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Workshop Players Theatre is located on Middle Ridge Road in Amherst, halfway between Rt. 2 and Rt. 58. See us on the web at: www.workshopplayers.com.