The Book Club Play
Written by: Karen Zacarías
Play reading facilitated by: Theatre Making North Bay
Date: August 12th @ 1:00 pm
Location: The Betty Speers Theatre (Capitol Centre) – 150 Main St E, North Bay, ON
Join Theatre Making North Bay as they facilitate a play reading of The Book Club Play as part of this year’s Duality program. This event is open to everyone and no experience is required. There will also be some light refreshments provided by the Opera Bakery Cafe.
Play Synopsis:
Loads of laughter and literature collide in this smart hit comedy about books and the people who love them. Ana is a Type A personality who lives in a letter-perfect world with an adoring husband, the perfect job and her greatest passion: Book Club. But when her cherished group becomes the focus of a documentary film, their intimate discussions about life and literature take a turn for the hilarious in front of the inescapable camera lens. Add a provocative new member along with some surprising new book titles, and these six friends are bound for pandemonium. Sprinkled with fun theatrical references to documentaries and novels galore from Moby Dick and Age of Innocence to Twilight and The Da Vinci Code, this buoyant comedy on contemporary culture will have everyone laughing … and reflecting. The Book Club Play is a delightful new play about life, love, literature and the side-splitting results when friends start reading between the lines.
Reviews of The Book Club Play
“Book Club is like Lord of the Flies with Wine and Dip”
A hit comedy about books and the people who love them. When the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary filmmaker and accept a provocative new member, their long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn. Sprinkled with wit, joy and novels galore.
“A delightful, fresh comedy.”
– Talkin’ Broadway
“The Book Club Play is a dangerous comedy about community, loving books, high and low culture, and the absolute terror of group dynamics.”
– Molly Smith, Artistic Director – Arena Stage
“Quite simply, the funniest play I’ve seen in years. Watch with horror, glee and recognition as this book club implodes—only to shed new light on its all-too-familiar members.”
– Blake Robison, Artistic Director Cincinnati Playhouse
“The Book Club Play was the surprise of our season. We sold out every performance and are working to try to schedule a remount of the play. Book clubs heard about the play and came in droves and then spread the word to others. The experience of the play was absolutely joyous for the audiences. The play is smart and funny and is a terrific show to stretch the skills of an ensemble of comic actors. The comedy is grounded by the real dilemmas of these very human characters. Audiences of different ages, interests and backgrounds, linked by their love of books, found windows into the play through the diversity of characters represented onstage. Our production was nominated for our local professional theatre awards for Best Ensemble.”
– Lisa Adler–Co-Artistic/Producing Director – Horizon Theatre Company
“The Book Club Play is a smart and hugely entertaining evening. Our audiences came and loved it and then came back again…One of our highest grossing plays in our 85 year old history!”
– Kate Maguire–Artistic Director, CEO – Berkshire Theatre
“THE BOOK CLUB PLAY was a romp that our audiences devoured. They saw themselves in the characters, and had a great time. Working with Karen Zacarías was especially delightful: she is savvy, generous, and funny. We had a terrific experience.”
– Mark Cuddy – Artistic Director – Geva Theatre
About Theatre Making North Bay:
Theatre Making North Bay curates and coordinates collaborative projects for cultural events, gallery exhibits, conferences, staged readings, film projects and currently runs a play reading program for seniors, with invaluable ongoing support from community partners.
Loretta Di Eugenio, founder of Theatre Making North Bay, is a passionate theatre maker, director, producer, actor and curator of performing arts. She holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Making, Bachelor of Education in Dramatic Arts, Honours Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Honours Specialist Dramatic Arts, and is a Certified Drama for Well-being Practitioner.
If you have an idea, or part of one, and would like help in getting started (or getting finished!), we are here to coordinate, consult, coach, polish or create from scratch with you. Let’s make theatre together!