MANSFIELD – The line between reality and fantasy becomes a bit blurred in the newest production at the Mansfield Playhouse.
In Sam Bobrick’s romantic comedy “Remember Me?” the audience finds Brian and Mary, two empty nesters who have been married for 27 years. According to director Doug Wertz, the couple is under the impression they have the ideal marriage until one fateful afternoon.
“When Brian goes away to play tennis on a Sunday afternoon, Mary’s old flame from college, Peter, shows up,” Wertz said. “It starts to get a little racy after they have a discussion of their former breakup, it gets a little steamy. Or does it?”
When Brian comes back from his afternoon tennis outing, he goes about his day as if nothing is out of sorts. Mary soon comes to realize that Brian can’t see Peter.
“What we find out is, Peter is a fantasy of Mary’s, and she can’t get rid of him,” Wertz said. “So she’s obviously not as satisfied as she thinks she is.”
Hilarity ensues between Brian, Mary, fantasy Peter and later an actress paid to make Mary jealous, as well as a surprise character introduced at the end. Though not everyone experiences fantasies of a former lover, Wertz said there are still very relatable themes in “Remember Me?”
“I think no matter what, comedy or tragedy, somebody is going to relate to it,” Wertz said. “I do think that sometimes we think we’re in an ideal situation and it’s not necessarily what we truly wanted out of life.”
“Remember Me?” employs a small cast of four, with Playhouse veterans Eric Gustafson and Catherine Madden interspersed with newcomers Kanashay Grayeagle and Michael Howard. This is Grayeagle’s very first play, as she takes on the role of Mary.
“You know you always want that little playhouse in the backyard? I’ve always wanted one of those,” Grayeagle said mischievously. “And now I’ve got one.”
Grayeagle has been a Mansfield resident for the past five years after moving from Columbus. Her role as Mary came from being bored one day, and deciding to pick up a script and audition. She said she has enjoyed watching her fellow actors.
“It puts me in a place where I have to be good, because they’re awesome,” she said. “When you can see the people doing it having fun, you enjoy their energy and fun, and I’m having a blast. This is the second half of my life, and it just keeps getting better.”
Playing opposite Grayeagle is Michael Howard as Peter. This is Howard’s return to the Playhouse stage after a 15-year hiatus.
“My 14-year-old daughter has been in the last two junior productions here,” Howard said. “Hanging out down here after spending so much time, I wanted to try to get back on stage. This role seemed like a pretty good fit.”
Howard echoed Wertz’s assertion that “Remember Me?” will be very relatable to Mansfield audiences.
“Brian and Mary are an older couple, and Peter being that ‘what if’ guy, and I think a lot of people have that feeling,” he said. “It’s a good way to walk through some of that in an actual production.”
“Remember Me?” at the Mansfield Playhouse opens Friday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. and continues with 8 p.m. showings on Jan. 21, 27 and 28, closing with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Jan. 20. Tickets can be purchased online at mansfieldplayhouse.com.
“I don’t know that it’s really romantic as much as it is frantic,” Wertz said with a laugh. “This is the time of year right after the holidays that everybody likes to enjoy laughter, and it just gets a little absurd.”
