For three nights, Landmark on Main Street’s Jeanne Rimsky Theater suspended reality and brought itself back to the 1960’s sexual revolution with Neil Simon’s play Last of the Red Hot Lovers.
The show, produced by The Cow Bay Theatre Company and set in a small New York apartment, is about Barney Cashman, a middle aged married man who sets out to seduce three very different women. His attempts are mostly funny, with a serious injection of reality as his amorous attempts fail for different reasons.
Excellent acting was the rule for this show that starred Michael Buscemi as Barney, Stephanie Hall as the frustrated, but confident middle aged married Elaine and Bonnie Rosenbaum as Bobbie, the free spirited unsuccessful actress with a lot of baggage who likes to smoke pot for medicinal reasons.
Patrice Richardson played Jeanette, a very depressed married friend who clearly gave Barney the wrong message about their secret rendezvous—crying and wailing away during her scene. In the end her dose of reality and morality gave Barney the drive to get his life back in order with his own wife. The show was overseen by veteran director Rick Grossman.
Wearing a second hat for the production, Stephanie Hall’s costumes were authentic to the period. The character Bobbi’s miniskirt-dress was a real throwback to the 1960’s. Other people that played key roles were Chris Rosselli, whose monochrome set complemented the scenes. The set was accentuated by Sean Ward’s lighting and sound giving the theater a professional look.
A reception the first night was held in the theater to honor three people. The first award was given posthumously to LuEsther T. Mertz, “for a lifetime of philanthropy and determined leadership in the theater.” The next award was to Community Chest of Port Washington for 65 years of service. The final award was to Sen. Jack Martins for his work in the Port. Members from the Town of North Hempstead and Nassau County were there to give proclamations and awards to Martins, as well.
