DECEIVERS

Metropolitan Playhouse
Virtual Playhouse
Presents
A Screened Reading
of

DECEIVERS

Written by WILLIAM C. DeMILLE
Directed by JOHN LONG

Featuring
ALBERTO BONILLA, DEANNA GIBSON, & TODD LAWSON

Graphic Settings by DANNY LICUL

Talkback with MICHAEL SCHWARTZ, Assistant Professor of Theater, Dance, & Performance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

www.metropolitanplayhose.org/virtualplayhouse

February 20, 2021, 8 p.m.

Yes, the author is one of “the” DeMilles. Brother of Cecil B. He wrote this little comedy in 1914 for Vaudeville performance. It’s a sort of “Who’s on First” plot, rife with confusion and miscommunication. DeMILLE spiced it up with suspicion, duplicity, and a couple of guns.

Flora and Amos have a comfortable marriage in a comfortable suburban home. Or they did. Flora has become more and more disturbed by her husband’s evening absences. He gets a phone call after dinner and announces that he must once again go to the office and “work late.” Hmmmm.

Flora has gone so far as to book a visit from a private eye. She wants Amos followed. She is sure that he’s up to no good. But Amos overhears her. Talking to a man who is going drop by the house! Now he’s sure that she is up to no good. He lingers to spy on her. Chaos ensues.

1914 was the time in our history when “the office” became a thing. Telephones also became “a thing”. Before that, husbands often worked down the street in a local business. Conversations were usually in person. Combine a remote office with a faceless voice and you have a fertile field for hijinks, none of them good.

DEANNA GIBSON and TODD LAWSON were perfect as the naïve, suspicious couple. LAWSON is really talented at looking sneaky, peering around corners. ALBERTO BONILLA was suave and charming as the visitor.  DANNY LICUL'S graphics were perfect to enhance the devilment. An altogether fun evening.

-Karen D’Onofrio-