PARADISE — Theatre on the Ridge actor Jeff Dickenson regards “Casablanca” as the greatest love story ever told. “It’s a sweeping, romantic, love story,” Dickenson, who plays resistance leader Victor Laszlo in the play, said. The movie “Casablanca” debuted in 1942 and went on to win Academy Awards for best picture, best directing and best writing.
The theater version, which debuts at TOTR in September, came after the movie. Dickenson regards the movie as the best film ever made. The story is set in the “glittering oasis” of Rick’s, a nightclub owned by American Rick and set in Casablanca, Morocco.
The people who frequent the club see it as an escape from the corruption and oppression of Nazi-occupied Casablanca. War torn and lovelorn, people gather in the nightclub, where music is playing and drinks are flowing: The nights at Rick’s are about to be flipped when an unexpected guest, a beautiful woman named Ilsa, chooses of “all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world,” to walk into Rick’s. Marquita Goodman plays Ilsa.
She was asked by director Amber Miller to be in the show one year ago. Goodman has performed in several shows at both TOTR and Chico Theater Company. “It’s been a great experience working with Amber,” Goodman said.
“I’ve acted with her onstage and it made me so excited to be directed by her. Her reputation precedes her.” Miller also designs sets and designed the “Casablanca” set.
“She is multi-talented,” Goodman said. “And Amber has great vision and I trust her.” Goodman said the part of Ilsa is very subtle and veiled.
“She’s beautiful, but you can’t see how she is feeling,” Goodman said. Goodman said that the show is not a musical, but music plays a big part in the show, since all of the action takes place in the nightclub. There is a singer singing in the club and a pianist.
Goodman is on the board at Legacy Stage and has performed in Shakespeare in the Park shows. “It’s been great working with this cast,” Goodman said. “It’s been a lot of fun.
Jeff Dickenson is wonderful playing my husband. It’s been really exciting working with these folks. They are amazing artists.
” The “Casablanca” cast is a little bigger than some of previous TOTR casts. There are about 15 people in the show. “The show is driven by the ensemble,” Goodman said.
“There’s a lot of business going on, a lot of people dancing or gambling. Everyone is stressed out so they are having fun and drinking a lot. The nightclub is a port to freedom and safety.
People want to go to America to be safe. The Nazis are waiting to see if they do anything illegal so they can throw them in jail.” Dickenson is also excited about the play and was jazzed when he heard Miller and actor Joe Hilsee, who plays Rick, adapted the script.
“It’s been a lot of fun so far,” he said. Dickenson discussed the show with Miller and she asked him to play Laszlo. “She said she’d love for me to be a part of it,” he said.
“I didn’t care what part I played, I just wanted to be a part of telling the story. I grew up with ‘Casablanca.’ It’s one of my top three favorite films and one of the best movies ever made.
It’s such an important film.” Dickenson said the love story is delightfully complicated. The theater version follows the same story as the movie, but there are tweaks to make it appropriate for onstage.
Dickenson said he is enjoying working with the whole cast. “It’s quality people having a good time,” he said. Dickenson has been acting in theater since the age of 10, when he performed in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.
” Bruce Dillman plays Louie in the play, who is the captain of the police force in Casablanca. “I have an uneasy relationship with the Germans coming to Morocco,” Dillman said. He said Louie hangs out in Rick’s to keep an eye on any suspicious people and he gambles as well.
Dillman said the bartender is played by Leesa Palmer, who doesn’t have any lines, but is onstage the whole time. “She’s an ever present force there,” he said. Dillman said he admires the members of the cast who work all day and then attend rehearsals at night.
“They are very dedicated,” he said. “Casablanca” begins Thursday, Sept. 12 and closes Sunday, Sept.
29. Theatre on the Ridge is located at 3735 Neal Road in Paradise. The theater phone number is 530-877-5760.
Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and there is a 2 p.
m. matinee on Sundays on the 15, 22 and 29. Tickets can be purchased over the phone or at /.
Tickets are $18 for reserved seats and $16 in general..
