Photo Flash: Actors' NET's NIGHT OF THE IGUANA Begins Tonight

Bucks County and beyond may be coping with wintry cold, but it's getting steamy inside the Heritage Center Theatre in Morrisville. The Actors' NET of Bucks County presents Tennessee Williams' acclaimed stage play The Night of the Iguana weekends tonight, January 17 through February 2. NET Co-Founder and Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle of Morrisville directs Williams' gripping tale of the dying dreams and sexual frustrations of an unlikely mix of lost souls brought together in a rundown hotel in the coastal Mexican jungle in 1940.

A trio of New Hope actors star in the production. George Hartpence plays T. Lawrence Shannon, a fallen Episcopal priest, who has succumbed to the ways of both the flesh and the bottle. Carol Thompson portrays penniless artist Hannah Jelkes, who endeavors to save the wayward clergyman from his personal demons. Susan Fowler plays Maxine Faulk, an earthy widow desperate for companionship. Mort Paterson of Philadelphia also stars as a renowned aging poet, who is racing against time to complete his final work.

The play's action begins with the entrance of Rev. Shannon, now a tour guide, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He leads his "ladies," an all-female tour party from a Baptist college in Texas, to the seedy hotel managed by Maxine. His charges are outraged by his having had inappropriate relations with a lovestruck 16-year-old student in their group, played by Maryalice Rubins-Topoleski of Langhorne.

Philadelphia actress Susan Blair plays Miss Fellowes. Additional cast members include (alphabetically) Ken Ammerman of Morrisville; James Cordingley of Lawrenceville, NJ; Marco Newton of Yardley; Sanjay Sharma of Langhorne; John Wishnie of Morrisville; and Morgaine and Wren Workman of Morrisville. Matthew Cassidy of Morrisville stage manages. Andrena Wishnie of Morrisville is the Lighting Designer, illuminating the set design by George Hartpence. Hayley Rubins-Topleski of Langhorne serves as Sound Designer.

Show times all three weekends are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (62+), $15 for WHYY card members, and $10 for children age 12 and younger. This production is rated PG-13 due to mature themes. To reserve, phone 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com. The company's website is www.actorsnetbucks.org. Social media addresses are www.facebook.com/theactorsnet and @actorsnet on Twitter. The Heritage Center Theatre is located at 635 N. Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), Morrisville - near the Calhoun Street Bridge. The Night of the Iguana is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.