‘Sylvia’ features small cast, big laughs

“Sylvia”

Presented by Olympic Theatre Arts; by A.R. Gurney

When: 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Sundays, from Oct. 19- Nov. 4

Where: Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Tickets: $18 for general public, $16 for OTA members, $12 for students with school ID, available from 1-5 p.m. at the theater box office, 414 N. Sequim Ave., Monday-Friday, or online at www.olympictheatrearts.org.

Romantic comedy enthusiasts meets dog lovers in Olympic Theatre Arts production of “Sylvia” that runs this Friday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 4.

“Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney and directed by Olympic Theatre Arts (OTA) regular Tia Stephens, features a small cast of four bringing in big laughs.

Stephens studied theater at Western Washington University and has worked backstage and on stage as a director, actor and sound designer.

While she has experience directing shows outside of OTA, “Sylvia” is her first directional role at the Sequim theater.

“We have a really enthusiastic team,” Stephens said. “I have an amazing cast.”

Stephens describes the upcoming show as “hilarious, heart-warming and heart-wrenching” as well as relatable for anyone who is or was a dog owner.

“I love dogs,” she said. “I’ve never met a dog I didn’t want to pet.”

The story of “Sylvia” follows the life of Greg, played by Edwin J. Anderson III, and his wife Kate, played by Jennifer Horton, and the issues that follow after Greg brings home an energetic dog named Sylvia, played by Melissa Karapostoles.

Problems arise for the married couple when they disagree on Sylvia and it brings tension into their relationship.

“When I first read the script I laughed out loud,” Stephens said. “(Greg) emotionally falls in love with the dog.”

Michael Sickles is new to the OTA stage and joins the cast in playing three separate roles: Tom, a dog enthusiast, Phyllis, Kate’s friend, and Leslie, a gender ambiguous marriage counselor.

“It’s nice having a mix of people that I know are fantastic and reliable and have worked together, but also they can help bring in someone new.” Stephens said in a press release.

Actors Anderson III, Horton and Karapostoles all have worked closely together on OTA’s stage in several shows making for a close-knit cast.

“We’re family at this point,” Anderson III said. “We get right to work,” Horton said.

For Karapostoles, she said Sylvia is her first leading role in a show.

“Going into the more emotional depths of Sylvia are challenging,” she said. “The physicality of the role is so fun.”

While Greg is one of Anderson III’s least favorite characters, he describes Greg as an “empty space” who is lost in life.

“Greg is kind of a mirror,” he said. “The show follows the process he’s doing through and it’s about his reactions to the characters.”

Horton said Kate is an opposite character of Greg, an empty-nester who thinks she’s found her niche in life. While her character disapproves of Sylvia, Horton says the role is ironic for her to play as she loves dogs and is a dog-walker.

Since she’s been cast in the show and Karapostoles has given Sylvia a voice and personality, she now sees that personality in the dogs she interacts with.

“They have a voice now!” she said.

Cast members believe Sequim audiences will enjoy the old-fashioned humor of the show, as well as the roller- coaster ride of emotions the show evokes through its characters.

Tickets for “Sylvia” are $18 for the general public, $16 for OTA members, $12 for students with school ID, available from 1-5 p.m. at the theater box office, 414 N. Sequim Ave., Monday-Friday, or online at www.olympictheatrearts.org.

For any performance, students purchasing a ticket at the door five minutes before curtain pay $5 if available.

Preview night is Thursday, Oct. 18; admission is free for OTA members and $10 for non-members. Pay-what-you-will night is Thursday, Oct. 25. Talk back night starts at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1.

For more information, call 360-683-7326 or visit the theater’s website at www.olympictheatrearts.org.

Edwin J. Anderson III, playing the role of Greg, left, holds Melissa Karapostoles, playing the dog Sylvia, as Jennifer Horton plays the role of Kate in Olympic Theatre Art’s modern romantic comedy “Sylvia”. The three actors say they consider each other family. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins

Edwin J. Anderson III, playing the role of Greg, left, holds Melissa Karapostoles, playing the dog Sylvia, as Jennifer Horton plays the role of Kate in Olympic Theatre Art’s modern romantic comedy “Sylvia”. The three actors say they consider each other family. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins

In Olympic Theatre Art’s upcoming show “Sylvia” Edwin J. Anderson III, left, emotionally falls in love with the dog Sylvia, played by Melissa Karapostoles. This new relationship causes problems between characters and sets the plot for the story. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins

In Olympic Theatre Art’s upcoming show “Sylvia” Edwin J. Anderson III, left, emotionally falls in love with the dog Sylvia, played by Melissa Karapostoles. This new relationship causes problems between characters and sets the plot for the story. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins