The show: “Prelude to a Kiss,” presented by Theatre Downtown at Encore Theatre & Gallery through July 27. Craig Lucas’ play is part rom-com, part sci-fi mystery, telling the story of Peter and Rita, who meet, fall in love, get married and then face a mysterious, fantastical event. Directed by Carron Clark.
The cast: Tim Seale (Peter), Sara James (Rita), Penny Thomas (Rita’s Mom), Bates Redwine (Rita’s Dad), Jack Heidt (Old Man), Debbie Smith (Aunt Dorothy), Lesli Johnson (Taylor), Alex Williams (Thom), Lee Green (Officiant).
The highlights: Seale and James give two strong performances as Peter and Rita. They, along with Heidt, do a fine job and are believable even when some ultra-unbelievable things are happening. Penny Thomas and Bates Redwine offer some strong support as Rita’s parents.
Needs work: The sound is uneven to the point of being distracting. Some actors are miked, and those that aren’t range from actors who project fairly well to some who sound as if they’re whispering to themselves. The lighting is a mixed bag, too, with some scenes taking place in almost total darkness. Much of that should be taken care of as the run goes on.
Bottom line: A mostly delightful little production that’s a bit rough around the edges. It flies by, clocking in at 90 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
“Prelude to a Kiss,” presented by Theatre Downtown at Encore Theatre & Gallery through July 27.
