From left: Jeff Breslow as George Schneider and Greg Lang as Leo Schneider.
Where and When
Reston Community Players present "Chapter Two" at CenterStage, Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Hunters Woods Village Center, Reston. Performances: April 25-May 10. Friday & Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets $17-$20. Call 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.o….
Neil Simon has a "trademark witty, snappy dialogue, and relatable characters that audiences enjoy ", said Joshua Redford, artistic director, Reston Community Players (RCP) . Shortly the RCP will bring Simon's "wide appeal to local audiences" with his "Chapter Two."
"Chapter Two" follows the life of George Schneider, a recent widower trying to make his way in a new and rather bumpy world of dating after a long marriage. George is "still coming to terms with his wife's death, who stumbles into a new relationship. He's caught between wanting to move ahead but being unable to let go...with his trademark charm and dry, acerbic wit." said Jeff Breslow who plays George.
"I appreciate Neil Simon's rapid-fire dialogue, but this show has more gravitas than is often associated with typical Simon plays. In fact, its roots are semi-biographical," said director Adam Konowe. "'Chapter Two' is really about learning to say goodbye and hello, as well as recognizing that we all have to play the imperfect hand we're dealt. Fallibility and even loss ultimately can create opportunity."
The show is set in New York City apartments during the late-winter and early spring as the sun begins peaks through grey clouds. "Chapter Two" received four 1978 Tony Award nominations. It was later made into a 1979 movie. Aspects of "Chapter Two" even found their way into a Seinfeld episode.
Greg Lang who plays Leo, George's brother described his character this way. "Leo is the type of guy you'd love to hate but can't. He's like Charley Harper in 'Two and a Half Men' or, more from the time frame, Jack Tripper from 'Three's Company.' He's the wisecracking womanizer who loves his brother but thinks more about himself than anyone else."
Describing the play, Lang said, "the play teaches about love and loss and how hard it is to move on when tragedy occurs. It teaches us that everyone deals with situations that are beyond their control and that happiness is not permanent or guaranteed but is something that takes hard work to achieve and hold on to...love isn't something we choose it’s something that chooses us."
Kristin Poling is Faye Medwick "a vivacious, and currently somewhat scattered, soap opera actress. She is disillusioned by the lack of excitement and warmth in her marriage and is floundering to find fulfillment."
"Chapter Two" is "witty, deeply moving, absolutely hilarious, and thoroughly delightful," added Polin.