Mild-mannered Barney Cashman yearns for one big fling to spice up his middle-aged, tranquil and faithful married life. As Barney haplessly stumbles into one disastrous secret rendezvous after another, he faces hilarious obstacles like the challenge of conducting an affair in his mother's empty apartment with three very different (and very odd) women.

 • Director - Zach Curtis
 • Stage Manager - Rachel Mullins
 • Lights - Barry Nelson
 • Sound - Jacob Rosene
 • Costumes - Emily Heaney

CAST
 • Barney - Ari Hoptman
 • Elaine - Karen Wiese-Thompson
 • Bobbi - Kristen Husby
 • Jeanette - Leslie Ball

UNDERWRITER
Paul Bunyan Telephone

Last of the Red Hot Lovers – June 27 – July 7
Barney Cashman's mother's apartment becomes a hotbed of excitement
By Bev Erickson

Last of the Red Hot Lovers, by Neil Simon – opens at the Paul Bunyan Playhouse Professional Summer Theatre.

Pathetic, yet loveable Barney Cashman, played by Ari Hoptman, is a married middle-aged man and fish restaurateur who is unsatisfied with his life. The clock is ticking for Barney and he's concerned that when he dies his epitaph will read: 'Here lies a nice guy who lived a nice life.' Barney yearns for more and decides to explore the world of infidelity. He haplessly pursues one disastrous secret rendezvous after another.

While his mother is out of her apartment, volunteering at the hospital, Barney decides her flat is the perfect place to entertain three different, very odd women. Although Barney is surrounded by colorful women, the comedy rests on him and his feverishly unfilled desires.

Neurotic, awkward, finger smelling - a concern after opening 8 dozen shellfish every day for 20 years - Barney desperately tries to make things work out. Although finding himself defeated after each romantic turn, his increasing confidence adds spine to the progression of the character. Hoptman says, "I like Barney and his determination. He is willing to put up with a lot to have a one-day affair. In the end, he learns a great deal about himself and how others see the world. "

In each of the three Acts, we meet a new love conquest of Barney's. First is Elaine Navazio, a chain smoking, brash, hard drinking, sex-starved woman who Barney met in his restaurant, played by Karen Wiese-Thompson. Next is Bobbi Michele, a pot-smoker (for medical reasons – she can't swallow pills) night club singer, nutcase that Barney met in the park, played by Kristen Husby. Last, is Jeanette Fisher, the proper, but depressed wife of one of Barney's closest friends, played by Leslie Ball. The antics these ladies put Barney through are hilarious.

No one knows better than Artistic Director Zach Curtis, that the key to any play, is in the casting. Curtis has previously produced three of Ari Hoptman's plays and is pleased to have enlisted Hoptman to play the role of Barney. Curtis said, "Hoptman is a versatile actor, solo performer, playwright and Uof M German Professor, when he is not acting. " Hoptman also played Paul Verrall in Born Yesterday.

In addition, Curtis has enlisted three comically inclined actresses as the diverse ladies that Barney tries to seduce in his mother's apartment. Elaine is played by Karen Weise-Thompson, who starred last summer as Veta Louise in Harvey and will play Nurse Ratched in Cuckoo's Nest. Karen lives in St. Paul. Bobbi is played by Kristen Husby, who played Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls last summer and will appear in Cuckoo's Nest and as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Kristen lives in Golden Valley. Jeanette is played by Leslie Ball, who, in 1991, launched BALLS Cabaret, a weekly experimental stage for artists of any discipline or experience. BALLS Cabaret, now in its sixteenth year, continually wins awards as the best open stage in town. BALLS Cabaret was recently cited in the New York Times as a 'must-see " while in the Twin Cities. Leslie holds a MFA from NYU and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree at United Theological Seminary.

Curtis said, "Ari, Leslie, Karen and I did Last of the Red Hot Lovers together at Theatre L'Homme Dieu in 2004. Kristen is new to the show, but is amazing. "

Off-stage, Leslie Ball says, "Ari Hoptman is my best friend. " When not starring in other professional performances, the two work together weekly at BALLS Cabaret at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis.

Last of the Red Hot Lovers has a good working plot that transpires through visceral, yet tender conversations among mainly decent people. Barney's witty lines are sure to make you laugh. The highly talented actor and actresses bring believability to the performance. Go see it. You won't regret spending an evening or Sunday afternoon in the comfortably air-conditioned downtown historic Chief Theatre to watch this outstanding production. The play runs June 27 through July 7. Evening performances start at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinee starts at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased online at: www.PaulBunyanPlayhouse.com, or through the Playhouse Box Office at 218-751-7270.

This production will also be touring to St. Cloud MN in March 2008 at Pioneer Place on Fifth, and then possibly a Twin Cities run to follow.