Summer Break Theatre presents the Texas premiere of 'Midnight', an old-school screwball farce set in 1954 New York.
Summer Break Theatre is running Midnight! at The Stage Austin through August 15, and it's the play's Texas premiere. It's an old-school screwball farce, the kind built on fast talking, slamming doors, and mistaken identities. The whole thing takes place in a lavish suite at New York's Ritz-Carlton in 1954, and the dialogue moves at a clip that keeps the energy high from the start.
The plot centers on a fading Hollywood director whose career could use a bit of artistic creativity. He ends up thrown together with Tony Simpolini, a self-taught Bronx writer who spends part of the night hiding in a bar cabinet. Simpolini has until midnight to come up with the money he owes a pair of Russian gangsters, and as the night goes on, the characters grow increasingly improbable. Along the way, the script takes jabs at show business, ranging from reality television to the cost of Broadway tickets.
Behind the scenes, Midnight! was written by David Epstein, directed by Rene Fulton, and produced by Maggie Meador. Taylor Flanagan plays Evie Maryweather, and Jordan T. Maxwell takes on the role of Tony Simpolini, with more of the cast filling out the suite. The production comes from Summer Break Theatre, an Austin company founded in 2019 by educators who use their summer break to stage shows.
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It runs Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM, with the show lasting two and a half hours including one intermission. Tickets range from free to $25, and you can catch it at The Stage Austin, 6134 E Hwy 290, through August 15.
