"Caught in the Net" Sure to Catch Some Laughs

Mix a two-timing father, with his two teenage kids, from two different relationships, and one internet chat room, and you have a definite formula for disaster …and the makings of a fantastic farce!

This story is alive and well in Westfield this month with Ray Cooney's Caught in the Net, performed by the Westfield Community Players (WCP).

The show, which opens May 8th, is a sequel to Run For Your Wife, performed by WCP in 1999.  

The British farce unfurls the story of taxi-driver "John Smith" who leads a double-life with two different women. His two children, unknowingly related, meet in an on-line chat room and decide they want to meet in person.

John Correll directed the original WCP performance and is now directing Caught in the Net.

"It's a very fast moving show. It builds and it builds and it builds," he said. "The audience has to pay attention …it's very very funny."

"I like to direct comedies. Comedies and mysteries are my favorites."

This is the 17th show John has been involved in for WCP since 1990. And his wife, Linda, is right there beside him on stage and behind the scenes. In this performance she plays "Barbara Smith," one of the lead roles.

"People enjoy it for both the physical comedy and the general situation of what's happening," she said. "It has to do with two kids meeting on the web and everyone understands that now."

John and Linda, who live in Winfield Park, have both directed each other, and acted together. In fact, their relationship began in the theater and never stopped.

They began dating while performing in an original musical Prospect Park. "I was playing her father and she did my makeup," said John. "I looked like a cross between Jerry Mathers and Donny Osmond."

Linda was also a lead in the show. "We started dating opening night," said John. 

They've played countless roles, together and separately. Among them … a dysfunctional husband and wife in Ken Ludwig's Moon Over Buffalo and a couple getting a divorce in Neil Simon's Jake's Women.

In real life … they seem to be right on the same page …and stage …which has actually come in handy.

"I forgot a line once when he was on stage, and he was sitting there on the edge of the bed," said Linda. "I leaned down and crawled to the bottom of the bed and said "help me" and he gave me the line."

And while they've both been involved in WCP for many years, in 1996, they each got a separate call coincidentally to take part in WCP's The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. "Sometimes when people know you they call you up and say 'I want you to audition for this.'"

John said Linda did audition for her role in this show. "My first audition for this show I didn't have one woman" show up.

He said in this case, "some body called me and said 'do I want to direct this show. I said 'maybe it's a good idea since I haven't directed in a while.'"

He said his cast doesn't need much motivation from him.

He quipped that a "whip and a chair" sometimes help. But on a serious note, "I have a really good cast …don't have to 'kick 'em' or 'light a fire under them.' I try to make rehearsals fun people want to be there."

John said a farce involves "a lot of timing" and "blocking of the movement of the actors" is crucial. "It's a basic English Farce …a lot of slamming doors and misunderstandings. People get confused."

And those doors are key (pun intended!) to this show's success.

"They have to close at a certain time. When one door closes another door opens. They have to be a certain rhythm. Everything has to be in a certain rhythm or you're going to lose the audience."

"In general, in a comedy it is incredibly important to play off of somebody else," said John. "The two lead characters… have worked together before and have known each other a long time. They trust each other. It's very important that you trust the other actors on stage when you're doing a comedy. It's really nerve-racking if you can't."

"It becomes a dynamo in comedy. Your energies almost become a dynamo. If you really trust the other person, it's one of the best feelings on earth when you can get that going. If the other person isn't there, it's just a drag. It really can bring everything down."

Linda agreed that trust is so essential. "In a Ray Cooney show, if you don't trust each other somebody could get hurt. It's a true British Farce. There's one woman running around with a knife for a while. We've taken the precaution of making it very dull, but that doesn't mean you couldn't get hurt."

"I'm a set builder and designer too," she added. "If you don't draw blood, it's not my set."

Rehearsals are three times a week, typically for five to eight weeks.

And both agree that it's a great cast of seven. "Most of them are pretty experienced. In this one you have to be experienced," said John. "Usually there's a small part that you can get an inexperienced actor. That's how they learn. This one, there's no small part."

Three of the actors in this show performed in the original Run For Your Wife, so there was a comfort level from the beginning.

Westfield resident of 15 years, Stan Kaplan, wasn't in the original show but said he's worked with John and Linda at least five or six different times.

"I bumped into (John) when I heard that the play was being considered …asked him if there was a part for an old man. He said there was and I came and I tried out."

The 78-year-old landed the supporting role of "Dad." He also played an ambassador in Woody Allen's Don't Drink the Water back in October and has been in about 12 other WCP performances.

He said WCP is a class act. "I've been in a lot of different community theaters," he said. "I would say that Westfield ranks pretty highly."

He said WCP's "substantial" subscriber base is "something a lot of theater groups struggle to have." 

Even so, he said it's hard to predict how an audience will respond to a performance. "Sometimes you get a show that you think is going to be good and it just strikes the wrong cord with the audience. Other times you have a show that you just think is mediocre and it turns out to be a smashing success."

A former educator, Stan said he "got involved with them simply by finding out that they existed and took advantage of the opportunities to participate."

An actor since high school, Stan said he's performed his share of comedies and dramas. "I don't find either one more difficult. I enjoy the challenge of either one, depending on the part, the play, who's doing it."

"This is one of those fun, off the wall kind of parts where you get to do all kinds of silly nonsense and act foolish. Hopefully you'll get some laughs."

A husband, father of two and grandfather of five, Stan said a performance like this one takes time and dedication.

Between family commitments, the gym and theater-going, he finds time to study lines about ten hours a week. "The first thing you have to have is motivation. If you don't have the interest, then you shouldn't be there."

He said commitment is essential, especially with rehearsals three times a week. 

"If you want to commit yourself you have to really commit yourself. You're letting other folks down if you don't take care of your job," said Stan. "You have to allocate the time to actually get to rehearsals …it takes a lot of patience and a lot of time and a lot of concentration to make sure that you're prepared when you get over there."

"People are committing themselves, their time and interest and effort but they're not getting paid for it. Their pay is their emotional satisfaction and what they get out of it."

He added it's obvious the two teenagers in the show are "interested because they seem conscienscious."  He said they're "Nice, cheerful cooperative kids …It's nice to work with them."

One of those teenage leads, 16-year-old Melissa DeCandia from Westfield, said she saw an ad in the paper and "showed up with no expectations."

"I got the script the day before. I went in not really knowing what to do."

She landed the role of daughter "Vicki Smith."

"You just go in and give it your best. It was cool."

The Westfield High School sophomore said she hasn't done any school theater since sixth grade, but she did do five years of lessons at the Papermill Playhouse in Millburn.

"I had just finished a show in December at Cranford Dramatic Club, Alice In Wonderland. I was really bored. I didn't have anything to do outside of school."

She said she likes the challenge of doing something other than an all-kids performance or a musical. "It's new and it's fun and I like to challenge myself."

One challenge has been learning how to cry on command for her role. "There's one part in the show where my uncle has died so I have to kind of step it up …not quite there but I'm trying to at least push myself to get into that state of mind."

Melissa said she's been working earnestly on learning her lines. "I find that the repetition of rehearsal three times a week, it just kind of starts to stick after a while."

"I like it all. I like that it's new and I like that I'm testing the water in something that I'm not used to."

As for the show itself, Melissa said the audience is assured lots of laughs. "It's really funny. I've seen them perform it so many times and I'm still cracking up watching. I love it. I think it's hilarious."

"The comedic timing …they're all just really good at it."

Linda, who describes the show as "British Marx Brothers," said it's a "family show" even though there are some "risqué moments."

"It's been a lot of fun."

Caught in the Net runs May 8, 15, 21 and 22 at 8 pm and May 16 at 3 pm. Individual tickets are $20, and $10 for students for the matinee performance.

WCP will also hold it's Third Annual Talent Showcase Saturday, June 12. Auditions are May 15, 1 to 4 pm and May 17, 7 to 9 pm at the WCP theater, 1000 North Ave, Westfield.

All proceeds go to the Capital Building Fund. Tickets for the Talent Showcase are $20 for adults, $12 for children.

For more show or ticket information, go to www.westfieldcommunityplayers.org.