Starlite’s comedies present “love at first sight, second sight, hindsight, and out of sight.” In each, love is actually a laughable matter. “It’s Only a Minute a Guy” for Sandra Musicante’s able-to-retain-dignity Betty who wants her cover charge returned from a bar where, in a few moments, she hasn’t seen her intended evening’s companion. But clever Alan Kitty’s bartender gets her to wait long enough for him to appear (with help from backstage dressers Ren Pearson and Mark Woodland) as Five Speed Dates, including a pushy cowboy, a bulging-eyed psychic reader, and a black leather-jacketed dude. But was any of them worth Betty waiting a minute or so for? Author and director provide an actually loving, pleasing poetic ending! “Mrs Jansen Isn’t Here Now” documents a sexy meeting in a bar between Joseph Mammina’s awkward, cute, newly ex-priest and Liz Pascoe’s ultra-sexy pick-up artist. A repressed Catholic upbringing makes her fantasize about such a conquest. Director Garry Breul has her hilariously coming on to the shy guy even when the situation changes. Suspense: Will they have a night of Love, Actually? “One-Night Stan” takes place in Italy, beginning in a restaurant that Adam Szudrich successfully directs his actresses to evoke — without scenic elements — in monologues spoken to the audience and in segments sequentially. Stan dated each there and each would like another date. Jennifer Lee’s starched academic Marie, with no compunction about being married, keeps quoting comments from Aristotle to Justin Bieber. Liz Pascoe’s nervous, romantic Holly agonizes about Stan’s mother and if he’ll call. Ariella Pizarro’s, usually self-assured, beautifully dressed and cosmetically perfect Rachel gets frustrated waiting. Who will actually love getting Stan’s call? “Assisted Loving” at Ardor Manner is actually a love nest for retired elders, as Andrea Dovner’s shocked Hermione discovers when visiting her mother Rosalind, vital Jan Wallace. With his renewed vigor, Neil Levine’s substantial Benny enjoys Rosalind. Colorful, vivacious Ana Maria Larson’s Doris proves the perfect receptionist. Director Mark Woodland makes sure all Shakespeare fans will “get” how much of the dialogue may be traced to the Bard yet seems natural to the characters. Is All Well That Ends with a meeting of the minds between Hermione and her mom? At Starlite Players, it’s fun to find the answers to the questions posed in each comedy.
