Pushcart Players Artistic Director Set for NOT NOW, DARLING at Bickford Theatre, 10/1-18

Pushcart Players artistic director, Paul Whelihan will perform in "Not Now, Darling" with the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum on October 1 through 18 in Morristown, NJ.

"Not Now, Darling" is a romping British farce about mistresses and minks in the exclusive West End London fur salon of Bodley, Bodley, and Crouch. Gilbert Bodley wants to sell an expensive mink to a mobster (at an absurdly reduced rate) for the mobster's wife; the wife, however, is Gilbert's would-be mistress and he wants to "close the deal" by gifting the fur to her. So, instead of doing his own dirty work, Gilbert gets his reluctant partner, Arnold Crouch, to do it for him.

"I play Arnold Crouch," said Whelihan. "Things go awry when the mobster plans to buy the mink for HIS own mistress and soon the whole strategy becomes ridiculous." The plan goes out the window, along with women's clothing, overnight bags, and a few other things. Mistaken identities, scantily clad women hidden in closets, mobsters, suspicious wives, and misguided shoppers catapult this comedy.

"My character takes the brunt of the foibles that ensue," added Whelihan. "I'm good with that, though. I'm never happier than when I'm being abused...on stage."

Whelihan performs, directs and stage-manages off-Broadway (47th Street Theater, 59 East 59 Theatres, NY Fringe Festival, 54 Below) and regionally (Forum Theatre Arts Center, Centenary Stage, The Growing Stage, Luna Stage Company, Premiere Stages, Royal Poincianna Playhouse, Broward Center for the Arts, Quillo Arts Center, Dreamcatcher Rep) in plays, musicals, dramas, original works and locally produced television, film and web series projects.

Paul played Tevye in "Fiddler...," Pseudolus in "A Funny Thing...Forum," Noah in "Two By Two," Miss Texas in "Pageant," and originated the roles of Gruber in "The Flame Keeper," Branch Rickey in "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting," Stanley in "Kiss the Bride," and the Mayor in "Dragons," by Sheldon Harnick. He can be seen in the web series, "The Madness of Art."

"My favorite roles," Whelihan noted, " include Sweeney in 'Sweeney Todd,' Quixote in 'Man of La Mancha,' and Valjean in 'Les Miserables,'...none of which have I ever played..."

Paul has been a producer and arts administrator for three decades in New Jersey's professional theater circuit. Starting as an actor with Pushcart Players in the early 1980's, he has directed the majority of the company's productions. Pushcart Players is the award-winning professional touring theater company specializing in arts education for children. Twice nominated for an Emmy©, Pushcart is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation.

"And now, I'm dining on the scenery at the Bickford Theatre," he quipped. "In all sincerity: I love this!"

Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum produces plays, presents jazz and special concerts along with year-round children's theatre, and classes in the performing arts. The venue is located within the Morris Museum at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. "Not Now, Darling" performance times are: Thu at 7:30pm, Fri and Sat at 8pm; Matinees: Thu, October 15th, and Sundays at 2pm. Ticket prices vary, with discounts for groups of 10 or more. Call the box office at 973-971-3706. Visit http://www.morrismuseum.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Stahl

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