By Kristen Weyer.
Love is in the air! Between now and August 4 th , Kalamazoo will be showing at Act II Playhouse in Ambler, PA, and it is a comedy that is truly comedic. Directed by Mary Carpenter, this show is one to see this summer. Kalamazoo is the story of two people in their 70s who are looking for love. Peg (Carla Belver), a sweet lover of birds and a woman of Catholic faith, and Irv (Jack Hoffman), a Jewish lover of metal detectors, have both lost their spouses and they find each other through an online dating site. From the creation of their profiles to their first dates and beyond, Kalamazoo delves into the adventure the two embark upon together as they look for happiness during this last phase of life. They have their ups and downs accompanied with lots of laughs (from themselves and the audience), and their story is a pleasure to witness.
All aspects of Kalamazoo are simple, and the outcome is a show that is entirely enjoyable. The actors – Belver and Hoffman – work well, and believably, as a couple. The two play their parts in ways that make them relatable and loveable, bringing the story additional meaning and making the characters people who the audience will root for in their quest for love. Each scene (scenic design by Dirk Durossette) is accompanied by the page of a large book on which lie photos or symbols representing the characters and their setting, which is turned and furnished with a new photo as each scene changes. Small reminders of where our characters are without distraction: this is the idea, and it works well for such a show. The transitions between scenes are dark, with music playing and lights flashing. Though music choice could be called in to question, there is a possibility that the modernity of the music is supposed to contrast with the generation of the two stars. One might wonder if it might work better with music from an earlier era.
Relatable shows are often favorites of theatre goers, and Peg and Irv are likely to be relatable, whether to those who share in their generation, or those who are younger and can be reminded of their parents or grandparents. Peg and Irv are sweet and funny and in their quest to simply enjoy the rest of their time on earth with a partner who loves them, they bring a ton of laughter through their authentic, comedic natures. Kalamazoo is a joyful show and anyone in its audience is sure to enjoy it.