(Photo by Rodney Smith/Tempus Fugit Design)
Magnetic Theatre’s Off the Rails on Track to Being a Hit
From the same playwright who brought you Shangri-La, MILF, The Musical, and The Employee Handbook Revision Committee comes Magnetic Theatre’s newest production, Off the Rails. This hilarious farce makes its world premiere at Magnetic 375, with performances August 27 through September 24.
Hollywood action star Gabriella and her tech-mogul fiancé Aidan are joined by their wedding party on an antique train crossing the south of France to Monaco for the big day. On this journey, the couple’s happilyever- after plans quickly derail. With slamming doors, mistaken identities, grave misunderstandings, and sexual shenanigans, this production features all the madcap zaniness typical of a farce.
When asked about her inspiration, playwright Lucia Del Vecchio replies, “I’ve always admired farce as a form. For all its wackiness and fast-paced theatrics, it’s actually a really complex structure, and I felt ready to take on the challenge. It was definitely difficult, but in a really fun and exciting way.”
Tracey Johnston-Crum, a Magnetic regular, stars in the role of Gabriella. Scott Bean takes on the part of Aidan. Other actors include James Meador, Tippin, Cody Magouirk, Christine Eide, Scott Fisher, and Meg Hale Brunton.
Magnetic’s artistic director Steven Samuels is a longtime collaborator with Lucia. As the show’s director, he says, “(Farce) is a style that calls for crack timing and precision, and it’s a joy to be able to pull that off. Happily, Lucia’s crafted a delightful, swift-moving script, and the cast, perfectly suited to these roles, fully understands the speed and attentiveness to each other the style demands. Plus, physical comedy!”
Magnetic 375 is located at 375 Depot Street in the River Arts District in Asheville. Tickets for preview shows on August 25–26 are $16 advance, $19 at the door. Tickets for regular shows are $21 in advance $24 at the door, and $10 student rush tickets are available (with student ID) 15 minutes before each show. Performances run Thursday through Saturday. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. nightly. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit themagnetictheatre.org.
