By Gary Wien
originally published: 10/07/2012
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ -- OCTOBER 5, 2012) -- It's rare to say that a play has a killer soundtrack, but a great 80s playlist is one of the many joys of Lewis Black's play and helps set the tone for "One Slight Hitch". The play, which opened on October 2nd and runs until October 28, is the season opener for George Street Playhouse.
Set in 1981, the play takes place on the day Courtney (the eldest sister of three) is set to marry Harper. The family has largely questioned what she sees in Harper, but her mother (Delia) is determined to give her the wonderful wedding day she never had. In the hours before the wedding is set to begin, Courtney's ex-boyfriend Ryan makes an unannounced visit, a missing florist is found in jail, valiums are taken, tons of booze is inhaled, and shrimp boats are put outside in the summer heat long before they were supposed to.
The play stars Mark Linn-Baker as the father; Lizbeth Mackay as Delia, the mother; Lauren Ashley Carter as PB; Christopher Tocco as Ryan; Rosie Benton as Courtney; Clea Alsip as Melanie; and Scott Drummond as Harper. It is directed by Joe Grifasi.
The first half of the play is like Neil Simon on speed with a healthy dose of Lewis Black's "Back In Black" monologues from The Daily Show. Fans of that show or of Lewis' comedy, will not be disappointed in this insanely hilarious 80's fairy tale.
The play begins with a look at PB, the youngest daughter. She's looking back as an adult at how the wedding day unveiled when she was just 16. When PB reveals in the opening that she's a Republican, I couldn't help but be reminded of Alex P. Keaton on the 80s hit TV show, "Family Ties". For whatever reason, the simple musical interludes on her Walkman and the mention of being a Republican did an outstanding job of setting the time period for me.
"One Slight Hitch" has one of the best openings I've seen in a while. You know it's going to be a good play when the simple introduction of the parents brings down the house with roaring laughter. Within two or three minutes, the idea that this is a Republican household becomes even more clear.
"The photographers are lesbians," said Delia.
"Lesbians? I can't even tell and I'm a doctor," said Doc, the father.
"Well, I'm sure it makes them better photographers," Delia replied.
While Delia is busy with wedding arrangements, Courtney's ex-boyfriend Ryan shows up at the house. Courtney had broken things off with Ryan about six months ago and met Harper. Both Courtney and Ryan are writers and Courtney had been able to write often while she was dating Ryan, but has been unable to since living with Harper (who is studying to be a psychologist). Despite this, she's convinced herself that she's happier now than ever and is willing to live a content - if uneventful - life with him. Meanwhile, Ryan is on a quest to write a modern version of "On The Road". His visit comes after hitchhiking from New York City to their house in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was completely unaware that today was Courtney's wedding day. In fact, he can't believe she would ever get married.
The father and PB frantically try to get Ryan to leave, but when his clothes are placed in the washer by mistake, he's forced to stay until they're done. He spends most of his time hiding in the bathroom leaving the audience to wonder when the inevitable meeting between him and his ex will occur. The moment of truth closes out the first act with tremendous laughter.
As the mother attempts to stay calm with the aid of modern medicine and the father begins to crumble after meeting Harper's parents, the second act morphs from non-stop jokes to more of a dramatic manner. While many powerful dramas often include comedy to diffuse the tension, this was one of the first times I've ever seen it in reverse -- a comedy that uses drama to reinforce how funny the play is. The combination works surprisingly well -- probably due to the setting. A wedding day is the perfect opportunity to show the dark secrets held in each family. Between the stress and importance of the day and the hopes and dreams involved with marriage, Lewis Black is able to use comedy to mask a truly interesting and poignant tale.
While the cast is fantastic, Mark Linn-Baker, one of the stars of the 80s hit show "Perfect Strangers", steals the show as Doc Coleman, the father. Maybe it's a role that reaches the men more, but you could really feel for a guy that desperately wanted a son yet wound up with three daughters instead. His performance is simply wonderful -- from the physical comedy of racing to hide Ryan to the scene involving his first cigarette in 25 years (a scene in which he goes from cigarette to booze, back and forth non-stop for about two minutes!) to a short skit involving him and the cake's bride and groom to the incredibly subtle way he showed how drunk he was with a near fall -- something that was done so well you'd swear he wasn't acting, but nearly fell on his own. The father also managed to have some of the best one-liners in the play:
While trying to avoid Ryan's parents who are at the front door, the doctor says, "Where is the emergency call when I really need it?"
As his wife scrambles to fix the catering situation, he finds himself alone, "The shrimp boats are sinking and I'm alone on the deck."
And when the situation seems to be completely out of hand, he returns to the mini-bar, "One more drink and everything should be clear."
This was one of the funniest plays I've ever seen, largely thanks to Mark's performance. In a fine ensemble cast, he was the glue that kept everything together. If this play was on Broadway, he would probably garner talk for a Tony nomination for his brilliant portrayal. Between his performance and Black's stellar writing, this play is a must see!
Photos by Frank Wojciechowski
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
EVENT PREVIEWS
Be Amazed by the Golden Age of Radio at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Return to the era when families gathered around the wireless set for "theater of the imagination." The Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a live presentation by WREP: When Radio Entertained People on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. A trivia game will take place before the show at 6:30pm. The performance will begin at 7:00pm. Join them for an evening "broadcast" of skits from the Golden Age of radio, performed live by WREP's veteran actors.
Centenary Stage Company's Women Playwrights Series presents "Not It!" by Kathleen Coudle-King
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company brings its acclaimed Women Playwrights Series to a powerful close on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00pm with a staged reading of Not It! by playwright Kathleen Coudle-King. The performance will take place in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University. Admission is free, with donations welcomed.
RVCC to Present Student Theatre Production of "The Wolves"
(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's Arts & Design department will present The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, April 15-17, 2026 at 7:00pm each night The performances, which are free of charge and open to the public, will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts presents "Little Shop of Horrors"
(BRIDGEWATER, NJ) -- Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts presents Little Shop of Horrors from April 16–18, 2026, in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Auditorium. This cult-favorite musical comedy features a book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, and tells the delightfully dark story of a shy flower shop assistant who discovers a mysterious plant with an insatiable appetite.
NJIT's Theatre Arts and Technology Program presents "Curtains"
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Institute of Technology's Theatre Arts and Technology Program presents the musical comedy, Curtains, from April 16-18, 2026 in the Jim Wise Theater.
County College of Morris presents "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
(RANDOLPH, NJ) -- As the nation commemorates the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, County College of Morris (CCM) invites theatergoers to be entertained and experience the life of American composer, playwright, actor, producer and showman George M. Cohan, in the high-energy musical Yankee Doodle Dandy. Presented by the Marielaine Mammon School of Music, Performing Arts, and Music Technologies, performances will take place on Wednesday through Saturday, April 15–18, 2026 at 7:30pm in Dragonetti Auditorium.
Gateway Playhouse To Hold Auditions For The Classic Musical Comedy "Guys And Dolls" on April 18th and April 22nd
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse will hold auditions for Frank Loesser's Tony Award-winning musical comedy Guys and Dolls on April 18 and April 22, 2026. Anyone age 16 and older, with any theatrical background or experience, is welcome to try out for this much-adored show. No appointments are necessary; all roles are open. Phil Pallitto, artistic director of the Gateway, will direct the musical.
Literature to Life Announces Second Series of Books Unite, Free Community Events in Paterson Supported by NJEDA A.R.T. Phase II Grant
(PATERSON, NJ) -- Literature to Life (LTL) has announced their second series of Books Unite: Literature to Life in Paterson, consisting of a book club, two live performances, and an interactive workshop all centered around The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Nutley Little Theatre to Hold Auditions for "Asuncion" by Jesse Eisenberg
(NUTLEY, NJ) -- Nutley Little Theatre will hold auditions for Jesse Eisenberg's 2011 play Asuncion on Sunday, April 23 and Monday, April 24, 2026 from 6:30pm-9:00pm. The production will be directed and produced by Craig Tiede.
Centenary Stage Company to Hold Non-Union Auditions for Nextstage Repertory Summer 2026 Season
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company is seeking non-equity singer/actors who are excellent movers/dancers for the 2026 NEXTStage Repertory 2026 Summer Season. The summer season includes The Wedding Singer and Maltby & Shire's Closer Than Ever. Auditions will be held by appointment on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10:00am–4:00pm in the Lackland Performing Arts Center.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Crossroads Theatre Company: Genesis Festival - "Sistah-Gurls and The Squirrel"Saturday, April 11, 2026 @ 7:00pmNew Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) New Brunswick, NJ
