
Battle of the sexes
Tyrone theater company to present slice-of-life musical comedyBy Jimmy Mincin, jmincin@altoonamirror.com
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Fact Box
If you go
What: Tyrone Community Players presents "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"
Where: St. Matthew's Parish Hall, 406 W. 11th St., Tyrone
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
Admission: Tickets are $10, and can be ordered by calling 684-2782 or may be purchased at the door. No child ticket prices are available because the show contains material unsuitable for children
More information: Visit www. tyronecommunityplayers.org
Get ready to laugh, cry and everything in between.
Tyrone Community Players will present its production of the popular off-Broadway musical comedy about romantic relationships,"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Matthew's Parish Hall in Tyrone.
Tickets are $10 and are available by calling 684-2782 or may be purchased at the door. Child ticket prices will not be available as the play contains material that is unsuitable for children, said Nancy Sloss, who serves on the TCP's board of directors.
"It's a story of men and women ... and it's absolutely hilarious, but there (are) adult themes," Sloss, 57, of Tyrone said. "The four cast members are so talented, playing a total of 57 different characters throughout the course of the show. It's just amazing."
Karen Mayhew directs the show, which stars Altoona native Jonathan O'Harrow and Tyrone thespians Kate Coltabaugh, Darcy Wilson and Bill Markley.
"It takes a couple's life from the initial dating aspect clear through until they're 70 years old ... from going on a blind date to having children to growing old," said Mayhew, whose past music direction credits include TCP's productions of "Jungle Book" (2007) "Oliver" (2008) and "Forever Plaid" (2001). "It was definitely a challenge for our actors and actresses to encompass that whole life realm span. As a director, it's also been a challenge to bring that out of them - those different age periods."
She added: "This is one of the best shows I've ever directed - way out of the ballpark. ... No matter how many times I watch it, I'm still on the floor laughing."
O'Harrow, 31, is having fun portraying multiple roles and relishes being part of a small cast.
"Some of the characters in the show are pretty broadly written, so it's easier to flip flop back and forth between them," he said. "There are a few serious parts - those take a little more getting used to.
"From a performer's standpoint, it's a lot of fun and requires a lot energy. I like the small cast, just because it feels more intimate. You really become close with the people you're working with. That helps the show overall and makes the experience more fun."
O'Harrow has had starring roles in TCP'S "Peter Pan"(2002) and "Seusical"(2006), and directed Altoona Community Theatre's "Thoroughly Modern Millie" last spring.
And whether you're 25 or 75, the show will strikes a familiar chord - in some way, shape or form.
"Everyone who goes to see this show will be able to relate because they've had experience dating, being married, being divorced or losing a loved one," said Darcy Wilson, 43. "This has everything to do with the relationship game and its many stages."
Wilson's had feature roles in TCP's "Oliver" (2008), "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" (2007) and "Nunsense" (2007).
Bill Markley, and Kate Coltabaugh, 32, of Warriors Mark and Tyrone, respectively, also are seasoned performers. Markley's played in TCP's "Honk" (2008), ACT's "Urinetown" (2007) and "Beauty and the Beast" (2006). Coltabaugh starred in TCP's "Peter Pan" (2002), "Always Patsy Cline" (2003) and "A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline" (2007).
"You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll experience the full range of emotions, just like you do in a relationship," Markley said. "It's poignant yet enjoyable - you're laughing, but you're relating."
Coltabaugh is enamored of the production.
"It's my absolute favorite show," she said. "When my family and I saw it off-Broadway, it was like looking at aspects of my own life. ... Anyone who's ever been in a relationship will relate to this."
TCP began in 1983 taking its cues from the acclaimed 1930s and '40s-era theater company, Tyrone Players, which disbanded as TV came into prominence, Sloss said. After finding a location to perform (the Tyrone YMCA) and procuring sufficient funds to proceed with productions, TCP debuted to a sold-out audience with a play called "The Orphans." For the next 20 years, the company produced an average of three plays a year.
In September of 2004, tragedy struck when "Hurricane Ivan" all but destroyed the YMCA building. Although the loss was devastating, TCP purchased the former Tyrone-Snyder Library. Plans for renovating the building are still in the preliminary stages, and options are being explored for a new performance space. For now, the group performs in various church halls.
"We're trying real hard to keep going," Sloss said. "You just do what you gotta do. ... We have a big dream of getting another theater."


