Robert Cuccioli, Jackie Hoffman and More Take Part in Project Shaw's TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD, 6/24
By: BWW News Desk May. 29, 2013
Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW presents Bernard Shaw's madcap comedy TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.In TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD, a glamorous pair of jewel thieves (Charles Busch and Robert Cuccioli) convince a chronic young convalescent (Ryann Redmond) to steal her own jewels and run away with them to a tropical paradise. Her over-protective mother (Jackie Hoffman) comes chasing after them and a riotous time is had by all. This is Shaw's 1931 madcap high-comedy journey, which takes on fad diets, the medical profession, the military, war, religion, and sex. It's a short and lively comedic lark.The cast features Charles Busch (THE DIVINE SISTER) as Sweetie; Robert Cuccioli (SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK) as Popsy; Jackie Hoffman (THE ADDAMS FAMILY) as Mrs. Mopply; George S. Irving as The Elder; Martin Moran (ALL THE RAGE) as Sergeant Fielding; Ryann Redmond (BRING IT ON) as Mops; Ed Dixon as Colonel Tallboys; Jonathan Hadley as Private Meek; William McCauley as The Doctor; and Michael Musto as "The Monster." The evening's narrator is journalist Adam Feldman of Time Out New York.
Now in its eighth year, Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW made history in December 2009 as the first company ever to present every one of Shaw's 65 plays (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches).David Staller produces and directs all of the PROJECT SHAW readings.For reservations to Project Shaw's TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD on Monday, June 24 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South), call TheaterMania at 212-352-3101 or visit www.projectshaw.com. All seat
are $30 with NO service charge.George Bernard Shaw was inspired to leave his job as a journalist and become a playwright due to the revolutionary works of Chekhov and Ibsen. He determined to create himself as an English-speaking version of these two great writers, only with more humor. In this spirit David Staller is adapting Ibsen's first "realistic" play, LEAGUE OF YOUTH, along with four of Chekhov's short stories. He will also be adapting four short stories by Shaw's great friend, Oscar Wilde.
These works will be presented as part of the Project Shaw upcoming season; ON THE ROCKS (July 22); Shaw with Ibsen's LEAGUE OF YOUTH (September 16); Shaw with Wilde's short stories (October 21); Shaw with Chekhov's short stories (November 18); and SUPER SHAW (December 16).As recently announced, Pearl Theatre Company kicks off its 30th anniversary season with George Bernard Shaw's YOU NEVER CAN TELL (September 3 - October 13), a co-production with the Gingold Theatrical Group, directed by David Staller.The Gingold Theatrical Group began its history-making PROJECT SHAW on Monday, January 23, 2006 with concert reading of the author's ARMS AND THE MAN. Over these past eight seasons, and 82 Monday-night presentations, the readings have played to sold-out crowds at The Players Club and starred some of the theatre's most celebrated actors including: Bryan Batt, Reed Birney, Blair Brown, Charles Busch, Michael Cerveris, Veanne Cox, John Cullum, Tyne Daly, Josh Grisetti, Jonathan Groff, Harriet Harris, Jayne Houdyshell, George S. Irving, Judith Ivey, Cheyenne Jackson, Daniel Jenkins, Marc Kudisch, Rebecca Luker, John McMartin, Kate Mulgrew, Megan Mullally, Brian Murray, Lorenzo Pisoni, Jane Powell, Charlotte Rae, Reg Rogers, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Marian Seldes, Carol Shelley, Emily Skinner, Fritz Weaver, and Karen Ziemba.
PROJECT SHAW readings are at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South. All PROJECT SHAW readings are open to the public. It's a rare opportunity to experience the inside of one of New York's grandest of old mansions, built in the 1840's, and filled with priceless theatrical memorabilia. The Players Club is New York's most legendary private club. The former residence of Edwin Booth, it became a club
for those interested in the arts in 1888.Each PROJECT SHAW reading is produced and directed by David Staller, who founded the Gingold Theatrical Group in 2006. His inspiration to create the series was in direct response to the re-election of former President Bush. As all of Shaw's plays deal with human rights and the inexorable power of the individual, the time seemed right. As is evidenced by the results of many recent elections, the times are still in vibrant need for Shaw's entertainingly demanding call for human rights for all individuals. In addition to directing, Mr. Staller judiciously adapts each play, consulting every available version of the author's plays, notes and letters to create the most comprehensive version for the concert reading.
As Shaw began his theatrical life as a critic (and since PROJECT SHAW concert readings are not open to reviews), members of the press have also been involved in each reading. Among those who have introduced or acted include Mark Blankenship, David Belcher, David Cote, Gordon Cox, Terry Teachout, Frank DiLella, Joe Dziemianowicz, Adam Feldman, Michael Feingold, Peter Filichia, David Finkle, Jesse Green, Eric Grode, Patrick Healy, Charles Isherwood, Donna Karger, Howard Kissel, Brendan Lemon, Ruth Leon, Brian Scott Lipton, Jeremy McCarter, Michael Musto, Jesse Oxfeld, Patrick Pacheco, Andy Propst, Rex Reed, Michael Riedel, David Rooney, Frank Scheck, Michael Schulman, David Sheward, John Simon, Raven Snook, Alexis Soloski, Roma Torre, Elisabeth Vincentelli, and Jason Zinoman.Gingold Theatrical Group (GTG) is also producing a successful new play development program. Named for one of Shaw' inflammatory one-acts, PRESS CUTTINGS. The writers in this program are currently on-staff
critics or journalists devoted to covering the theater scene. These plays will be developed in a workshop process. These plays are to focus on the Shavian precepts involving individual human rights,
political and social responsibility and the comic absurdity of daily life.
GTG also engages in educational programs, most notably with the Lighthouse International Saturday morning program, which promotes the Shavian precepts to inner-city teens. For more information, visit www.projectshaw.com.
Videos