Gilroy
– Six local actresses will take the stage today for PIntello
Comedy Theater’s production of
”
Belles.
”
Written by Mark Dunn, the show is described
”
a play in two acts and 45 phone calls.
”
Six sisters from Memphis who now live all over the country spend
the entire show communicating on the phone.
Gilroy – Six local actresses will take the stage today for PIntello Comedy Theater’s production of “Belles.”
Written by Mark Dunn, the show is described “a play in two acts and 45 phone calls.” Six sisters from Memphis who now live all over the country spend the entire show communicating on the phone.
“Something happened to Mama, and the oldest sister is getting in touch with the whole family,” said producer Rod Pintello. “There are humorous, loving and poignant things that happen in their lives.”
Pintello and his wife Marion Pintello, who directs the play, have enjoyed adapting the company’s stage for the production. There are six separate areas representing the location of each sister, from a college dorm room to a kitchen to a dressing room. The actresses only communicate by telephone and never come in contact with one another.
“Rehearsing takes a completely different tone when you never make eye contact with your other actresses,” Rod Pintello said. Given the nature of the show, some castmembers struck upon the sensible rehearsal method of practicing lines with each other by simply calling
from home.
“We have six extremely talented actresses doing a marvelous job,” he said.
The ensemble cast features Valerie Vanni and Erica Rizzi-Romero from Gilroy, Ariane Borgia and Christine McElroy from Morgan Hill, Amber Marince of Fremont, and Stephanie Pintello, who recently moved to San Jose.
“It’s been great. I feel like I’ve adopted all these ladies,” Pintello said. Although he has enjoyed working with an all-female cast, he is looking forward to bringing a few males into the theater come opening night.
“Marion and I give a speech before each performance. I think this time I may thank all the men in the audience for coming,” he said laughing.
A veteran of the stage, with “Belles,” Pintello took a break from acting to focus on production.
“It’s nice, no lines to memorize this time,” he said. Pintello hopes to perform in the company’s next production.
Performances of “Belles” will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through Oct. 2. This is the first time a Pintello Comedy Theater show has run for four instead of five weeks. The Pintellos are hoping to produce another show by the end of the year.
They are also looking for another location for performances as their lease runs out in December.
The theater is located at 8531 Church St. Table reservations can be made by e-mailing
pi******@ga****.com
or calling (408) 776-8004. Tickets are $15.
