Sexy senior comedy will leave you in stitches

Details:
‘Nana’s Naughty Knickers’
Where: Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown
When: 2 p.m. July 22, 28-29; 3 p.m. July 26 and Aug. 2; 7 p.m. July 21, 22 and 29; and 8 p.m. July 23, 25, 30-31 and Aug. 1.
Admission: $18 to $37
Tickets: 814-629-9201
Sylvia Charles is a vibrant 83-year-old, successful business woman. There is just one problem – her clandestine lingerie business is illegal.
The hilarious premise makes for a rousing stage comedy at the Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown when “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” is on stage July 21 through August 2.
The sizzling senior romp is directed by Playhouse veteran Chan Harris and evokes feelings of a classic TV sitcom.
The play by Katherine DiSavino introduces us to law student Bridget (Sarah Sawyer) as she arrives for a summer stay with her grandmother Sylvia (Mary Ehlinger).
Within a matter of minutes, Bridget and Sylvia’s friend Vera (Barbara Russell) discover that Bridget’s grandma is illegally running a lingerie business out of her apartment complete with secret compartments that pop open to reveal nighties, teddies and assorted frilly things.
“Saucy Slips, Etc.,” provides lingerie that is custom-designed by Sylvia for the special needs of her senior clientele. With so many of the suspicious deliveries, the UPS driver (James Powers) adds colorful humor to the story.
Local policeman Tom O’Grady (Nick Stokes), has a thing for Bridget, and Sylvia’s landlord Gil (Sean Patrick Hopkins), is trying to find a way to evict Sylvia from her rent controlled apartment, adding to the play’s tension as to whether Sylvia will be found out and evicted or, even worse, arrested.
“This is one of the most hilarious and zany shows of the season,” producer Teresa Marafino said. “It’s like a two-hour episode of the ‘Golden Girls.'”
Among the cast are three veterans to the summer stock theater stage.
Mary Ehlinger first appeared on the Playhouse stage 14 years ago as Louise “Always, Patsy Cline.” Among her other productions in Jennerstown are, “Smoke on the Mountain,” “The Underpants,” “Cowgirls,” “Honky Tonk Angels,” “The Pajama Game,” “Lend me a Tenor ” and “Ring of Fire.” Ehlinger has performed and directed across the country and Off-Broadway. She is a composer whose music has been featured in television broadcasts and her musical “Swing Wings” recently workshopped in New York and is slated for production.
Barbara Russell is well known to Pittsburgh and Playhouse audiences. She was the comedy partner of the late Don Brockett and has been an actor in radio, television and film for many years including her work for the Pittsburgh City Theatre and Civic Light Opera. Russell is a former elementary teacher and one of the first teachers of reading on WQED-TV. She was honored as an distinguished alumni from Indiana University and also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Works Festival. Her Playhouse credits include “The Importance of Being Ernest,” “The Sin Game” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
Sarah Sawyer is excited to join the Playhouse for a fifth year. Among her favorite past roles are Suzy in “The Marvelous Wonderettes” and Cindy in “Suds.” Most recently Sawyer has been singing in New York City where she resides for new musical composers and lyricists at music writing company BMI during their presentations of new musicals and has done seven Off-Broadway productions.
Mountain Playhouse will welcome the ‘Knickers’ crowd with opening night festivities July 22 that includes a party with the cast immediately following the 7 p.m. performance, free to audience members, in the Tuscany Room at Green Gables Restaurant.