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DIRECTOR’S<br />
NOTES<br />
Whatdoesitmeantobeagentle,lovinganddecentperson?<br />
Everyoneonthisplanetwantstobelovedinsomecapacity:it’sacentralpartof<br />
whatmakesushuman.That’salsowhyourrelaonshipswithotherpeoplearean<br />
endlesslyfascinangsubject.It’sequalyhumantoberegularlyreconsideringhow<br />
feelaboutthepeoplewhomaertous,andhow wethinkthesamepeopleare<br />
lookingatusinturn.<br />
NeilSimonwroteLastoftheRedLoversinhisearlyfores,whileslmariedtohis<br />
firstwife,JoanBaim.WhileSimonwasattheheightofhistheatricalcareerinNew<br />
York,itwasalsoaperiodofchangeforhim inhisownmid-lifecrisis.TheplaypremieredonDecember28,1969-meredaysbeforethebeginningofanew<br />
decade,<br />
andtheanxietyofchangeiswhatthemainconflictinRedHotLoversisalabout.<br />
Tonight’splayisthestoryofBarneyCashman,amaninmanywayssimilarto<br />
Simon’sidealizedeverymanversionofhimself,asheleapsintotheunknownand<br />
riskshis23yearsofhappymariageforadoseofexcitementbyhavinganaffairnot<br />
once,nottwice,butthreemes.Thatideaofgoingintosomethingnew isthemain<br />
sourceofbothdramaandhumourintheshow.AstheNew YorkTimeswroteinits<br />
review oftheoriginalproduconmorethan50yearsago,“Thereisthedimensionof<br />
humanitytotheplay’shumoursothatyoucanloveitaswelaslaughatit.”<br />
Asanaudience,wetooareinaperiodofnew beginningsandcauousopmism for<br />
thefuture:forseveralmonthsnow we’vebeen(atlonglast)alowedtoreturntolive<br />
entertainment.Weasatheatre-goingcommunityareselingintothenew normal,<br />
andwe’retryingtorediscovertheloveandexcitementthatweoncehad.Inthat<br />
way,we’reonthesamequestasBarney-justwithlessinfidelity.<br />
Thisbringsusbacktothequesonfrom thebeginning,andonethatmulplecharacterstonightwilask:whatdoesitmeantobeagentle,lovinganddecentperson?<br />
Weasacastandcrew havebeenproposingourownanswerssincewestartedwork<br />
ontheplayfourmonthsago.<br />
Thankyouforbeingheretodaytoseetheopeningshow ofBOTG’scomeback<br />
season,andthankyouforsupporngourworktoentertainHaltonRegion.The<br />
greatestrewardinworkingontheshow ishavingredhotaudienceslikeyourself<br />
cometothetheatreandenjoyit.<br />
TYLERCOLLINS<br />
DIRECTOR<br />
SEEITLIVE<br />
22/23SEASON
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