Hilarious satire Comic Potential at Topeka Civic Theatre

"Comic Potential," comes to the Topeka Civic Theatre Mainstage June 3 through 18. Photo provided.

Comic Potential is a hilarious satire of television and a touching romantic comedy. It begins in a TV studio where a hospital soap opera is being taped. The producer, Adam, finds out that one of the actors is an “actoid” and he begins to fall in love with the charming robot. Topeka Civic Theatre brings Comic Potential to its stage June 3 through June 18.

According to literary producer Samuel French, giving a synopsis of Comic Potential says, “A sensation in London and New York, this is one of the funniest and most inventive plays by Britain's grand master of comedy.”

British playwright Alan Ayckbourn is the author of Comic Potential.

“Adam, the young nephew of the producer and an aspiring writer who worships the director (once a great movie director and now a broken down has been), is on the set. Adam starts chatting with Jacie Tripplethree, the actoid (serial number JC333) playing the nurse and finds, to his surprise, that not only can she carry on a conversation but, due to what she calls a fault in her programming, she has a creative imagination.

“Adam wants to build a new television series around her but the studio will not hear of it. He also finds he is falling in love with the charming robot! Will Adam get the green light on his series? Will love prevail? Jacie is one of Ayckbourn's greatest characters; her portrayer won all of London's major acting awards.”

The London Sunday Times said, “Comic Potential hurts you with the sheer exuberance of its laughter and liberates you with its seriousness.”

The Topeka Civic Theatre production features Laura Mzhickteno as Jacie, and Daniel Kooser as Adam. Other cast members are Don Wegener, Patsy Patterson, Gregory Richardson, Gary Luke Foiles, Erin McGinnis, Cristin Belnay, Alexandra Reilly, David Timpany, Marc Rapp, Jayme Basinger and Matt Escobar.

Performances are June 3-4, 9-12, and 16-18 at TCT’s Mainstage Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for full-time students. Dinner is not required, but can be added to any Friday, Saturday, or Sunday show. Tickets are available online at www.topekacivictheatre.com, and by phone at (785) 357-5211.

The Gayly – June 1, 2016 @ 11 a.m.