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‘One Slight Hitch,’ Lewis Black comedy, to open at Majestic

Date: 2/13/2015

WEST SPRINGFIELD – The Majestic Theater’s 2014-15 season continues on Feb. 26 when “One Slight Hitch,” a play written by comedian Lewis Black, opens for its seven-week run.

“One Slight Hitch” is a “classic door-slamming, farce kind of comedy,” according to the Majestic’s producing director, Danny Eaton. Set in the 1980s, the play follows a suburban family’s antics as the oldest daughter prepares to marry her stuffy, stable fiancé.

While the family fusses over the wedding taking place in their backyard, the daughter’s old boyfriend and fiancé shows up, creating the comedic basis of the play.

“It’s a family story. I think it’s really going to resonate with our audience a lot,” Eaton said. “It’s very warmhearted. I think there’s going to be a nice response to it, and you always look forward to that.

When the play opens up on Feb. 26, Black will be at the Majestic Theater, reuniting him and his long-time friend, Rand Foerster, who is directing the production.

Foerster and Black attended Yale School of Drama together and went on to run the West Bank Theatre in New York for a decade. Foerster said he has directed versions of “One Slight Hitch” before, but this one is special.

“It’s a new version of it, which is fun. Rebecca Nelson and Andy Matthews will be in it, both folks who worked at West Bank with us. They’re very talented actors,” Foerster said. “It’s fun to be back working with his words and his crazy sense of humor.”

Though Black is known for his political, often ranting, stand up, “One Slight Hitch” shows the comedian’s passion for play writing.

“There’s this whole public side of Lewis Black that everybody knows, but there’s another whole side to him that people don’t really know,” Eaton said. “This sort of play is reflective of that.”

Black was profiled in the month’s edition of “PRIME,” where he talks in depth about his passion for play writing.

Foerster said that the play that “reeks of nostalgia” has the capability to reel in the audience.

“Lou worked really hard to make things funny. It’s the heart of the piece. It can charm an audience and tickle them, and that’s really what I want to do,” Foerster said. “We’re going to have some fun. If we can have some fun with it, the audience will have fun with it.”

Foerster said that any pressure about directing a friend’s play has turned into excitement. It is more than just another production, he said.

“It’s fun to be able to collaborate. This one is kind of special because I’m doing a friend’s piece as opposed to somebody’s I’ve never met before,” Foerster said. “It has a sense of family, so it feels good.”

The Majestic Theater is raffling off two tickets for 10 winners to attend to the opening night cast party with Black in attendance. Raffle tickets are available for $10 at the Majestic Theater or online at www.MajesticTheater.com. The drawing will take place on Feb. 15.