Diane Andrews

Escape and Laugh with SCP’s “See How They Run”

Playing to its strength, the Santa Clara Players (SCP) presents yet another comedy in its decades-long tradition (since 1962) of keeping the audience laughing even in the darkest times. Its production of the farce “See How They Run” by British playwright Philip King (1904–1979) runs Feb. 28–March 15.

“We chose ‘See How They Run’ because it’s very funny, and it’s doable on our small stage. We do a lot of farces (not only British) because they help take us away from everyday life, and they are just a lot of fun—to do and to watch,” said SCP producer George Doeltz.

The play title is a line from the children’s nursery rhyme, “Three Blind Mice.”

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The action takes place in a vicarage in the English countryside. In the original 1943 WWII version of the three-act comedy, English villagers were preparing to withstand imminent Nazi invasion, and an escaped prisoner was a German Nazi POW.

In 1945, the opening night London audience stayed in their seats and kept laughing despite the three German bombs that were dropped during the performance.

What can today’s SCP audiences expect of this later version, set in post-WWII England? Like Doeltz, the director and actors promise a night of escape and heart-felt laughter at King’s colorful cast of characters.

A vicar, his wife Penelope (a former actress), and their Cockney maid are overwhelmed as a town busy-body, an American G.I., a visiting Bishop, and four men in clergyman suits—one an escaped Russian spy, all converge on the vicarage.

“The characters are ridiculous and very funny and absolutely wonderful to play. Although what they say and do may seem over the top, each one of them has a real quality … for people to connect with … Every character is likable in their own way,” said Sunnyvale resident Katelyn Miller, playing the charismatic Penelope.

In his seventh SCP production, San Jose resident Patrick Idleman plays the smarmy American soldier Clive, a quipster and joker.

“That’s a quirk of his I personally identify with, and, hopefully, the audience will get a kick out of his peanut gallery commentary as well,” said Idleman. “The most challenging component of portraying Clive is the period-specific language he uses as an army grunt from the 1940s.”

“The most fun part about playing these characters is also the most challenging part, which is that the show is so fast-paced and energetic,” said Miller, who has been involved in the theater since the fifth grade and now teaches drama to 7–12th graders in San Jose.

In directing the farce, Sunnyvale resident Robert Casillas—directing his eighth play with SCP—draws on his childhood experience watching old-style comedies and films with Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, WC Fields, the Three Stooges and Mae West.

“Our older patrons will see the rather slapstick humor that will remind them of the comedies they watched in their youth. Younger audience members will see a style of comedy that is different from contemporary films and TV comedies. All will find moments in this show that will make them laugh out loud,” said Casillas.

“What’s fun about this farce is that the audience has the insider knowledge and gets the opportunity to see all the things that the other characters are missing. The audience will find themselves rooting for each one of the characters,” said Miller.

A couple years ago, SCP lost part of its City funding, amounting to about 20% of its annual budget. To compensate, performances have been cut from 11 to eight per production.

“But we are not done yet. We have some fantastic new people helping us, and we are still having fun,” said Doeltz.

Visit SCP online at www.scplayers.org or call (408) 248-7993 for tickets to “See How They Run” in the 71-seat Hall Pavilion (behind Santa Clara’s Triton Museum of Art), 1750 Don Ave. at Warburton Avenue.

“This is an old-fashioned comedy that will make one forget the troubles of the day and have a good laugh. It’s what we all need these days,” said Casillas.

Escape and Laugh with SCP’s “See How They Run”

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