When a man loves a woman, um, well, two women, and then marries them both, trouble will ensue. As will hilarity and it does in abundance in the classic British farce, Run for Your Wife, which opens on Venice Little Theatre’s MainStage January 15, 2008. The show will run through February 3, 2008 with performances Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $23.00 and are onsale now at the theatre’s box office, by phone at 941-488-1115 or online at www.venicestage.com.

In this comic farce, London taxi driver John Smith juggles two wives, each in her own apartment in a different part of town. His double life takes a turn into the farcical when, in rushing to the aid of an old lady, he ends up being mugged and lands in a hospital. Meanwhile, both wives have called police to report him missing. Complications abound and compound and the show becomes just plain rollicking fun.

The show ran for 2500 performances in London’s West End and continues to be performed all over the world wherever audiences like a good laugh.

Directing is Murray Chase, the theatre’s Artistic Director, who directed A Streetcar Named Desire, earlier this season. Scenic designer is Jim Lovett and Lighting Designer is Alise Hart. Dorian Boyd provides Sound Design and Jeannette Rybicki is Costumer. Stage Manager is Will Betterton. (In the way of community theatre, Betterton’s sister Hannah, is stage managing VLT’s Apartment 3A, which will run concurrent with this show, but in the Pinkerton Theatre)

In the leading role of John Smith, is Sarasota’s own Cliff Roles, who will make his VLT stage debut with this show. His wives are played by Maureen Young and Laurie Colton-Farrar. Also in the cast are Ken Fromer, Matt Erickson, Fred Pazona, David Scolnick and Shawn Watkins.

The theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave on the island in Venice. The Box Office is open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday and opens one hour before all performances.

By RAY COONEY

DIRECTOR: Murray Chase

STAGE MANAGER: Will Betterton

SCENIC DESIGN: Jim Lovett

LIGHTING DESIGN: Alise Hart

SOUND DESIGN: Dorian Boyd

COSTUME DESIGN: Jeannette Rybicki

(order of appearance in the play)

Mary Smith - Maureen Young

Barbara Smith - Laurie Colton-Farrar

John Smith - Cliff Roles

Detective Sergeant Troughton - Ken Fromer

Stanley Gardner - Matt Erickson

Reporter - David Scolnick

Detective Sergeant Porterhouse - Fred Pazona

Bobby Franklyn - Shawn Watkins