A caveat first. Mary Jordan, who co-stars in the New Tampa Players production of Same Time Next Year for the next couple of weekends at the Carrollwood Cultural Center is my niece. So I’m biased.
That said, the two-act play, which also stars Marc Sanders, is a hoot.
Sander and Jordan reprise the rolls played by Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda in the 1978 movie, based on the play by Bernard Slade.
The pair – Doris and George – meet in a country inn in northern California in 1951.
That initial extramarital tryst is repeated the same weekend year after year until 1975 with hilarious – and bittersweet – results.
Both Jordan and Sanders (whom I am not related to) give extremely strong performances.
Is the play – which runs July 18, 19, 20 and 25, 26, 27 – as good as I think it is?
I’m not a theater critic, so I don’t know what an educated “critic” would say. My standard of excellence about entertainment, whether on stage, television or movies, is: Does it make me laugh or touch me in some way? Same Time Next Year does both.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children and groups of 10 or more.
The play does include some racy language, so if you are easily offended or worried about tender ears, don’t go.
The Carrollwood Cultural Center is at 4537 Lowell Rd. Call (813) 386-6687 for reservations.
