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<\/a>Some of the characters suffer from intimacy and romantic issues, and problems range from commitment, a dull marriage to contemplating having children.<\/p>\n
Director Kristen Fogle became a fan of Cariani after being introduced to \u201cAlmost Maine\u201d and feels that theatregoers who enjoyed that show will love this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to jump on the popularity of \u2018Almost Maine,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cI approached Lamplighters and thought it would be a good fit to the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every performer plays several characters during the evening, and all nine tales deal with completely different relationships, which make them all the more entertaining for various audiences. Performer Ray-Anna Ranae respects Cariani\u2019s ability to connect with different generations of theatregoers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you are coming in as a high schooler or you are in your 80s, you\u2019re going to relate in someway to each relationship,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
There are also some fantastical and strange elements in Cariani\u2019s dialogue as well. Employees from the Supercenter become a singing and dancing Greek chorus between scenes, several men and women suffer from fictional disorders, and one wife is convinced that boredom will lead to murder.<\/p>\n
Like Ranae, actress Carla Navarro appreciates that there is plenty of realism that fits with Cariani\u2019s offbeat storytelling.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile some of the circumstances are unusual or unreal, these people are still human beings,\u201d she said. \u201cThat shouldn\u2019t be overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n Cariani\u2019s script might be largely comedic, yet Fogle acknowledges that the writing isn\u2019t as light as \u201cAlmost Maine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis digs into serious issues like realizing that your partner cheats on you and what happens when you can\u2019t find yourself anymore,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little darker than his other well-known romantic comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n As much as Fogle enjoys Cariani\u2019s writing, she doesn\u2019t plan on staging more of his work anytime soon.<\/p>\n \u201cI always try to focus on something that seems like it\u2019s going to have legs,\u201d she said. \u201cI picked \u2018Love\/Sick,\u2019 because it hasn\u2019t been produced in Southern California and the script might get a similar reputation to \u2018Almost Maine.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Ensemble member Steve Murdock thinks it\u2019s good that Fogle and employees at the theater focus on one show at a time, rather than thinking about producing other Cariani plots.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should focus on the meal you have in front of you rather than the six down the way,\u201d he said, adding jokingly, \u201cGod knows we have a lot of meal to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n Fogle is proud of the cast and crew she is working with for the season opener in La Mesa.<\/p>\n \u201cCommunity theater sometimes gets snubbed, or is mistaken for not being as good as professional theater,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have professional-caliber talent right now at Lamplighters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove\/Sick\u201d will be performed at Lamplighters Community Theatre July 6 through Aug. 5. For tickets or more information, visit lamparaslamesa.com<\/a> or call 619-303-5092.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>Fogle\u2019s interpretation of \u201cLove\/Sick\u201d marks the beginning of Lamplighters 81st season. Other selections scheduled through 2019 include Beth Henley\u2019s \u201cCrimes of the Heart,\u201d Agatha Christie\u2019s \u201cAnd Then There Were None,\u201d and the musical \u201cNine.\u201d<\/p>\n