The Hampton Theatre Company To Present Romantic Comedy “Sylvia” At Quogue Community Center

Hampton Theatre Company is postponing the opening of Sylvia due to Coronavirus.

A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia will premiere at the Quogue Community Hall on Thursday, March 19. The third production of The Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) 2019-2020 season will run through Sunday, April 5.

“This romantic comedy is filled with hilarious and touching complications of empty nesters and their newly adopted dog,” Terry Brennan, HTC General Manager, shared. Because the play deals affectionately with issues related to animal adoption/rescue, the HTC is dedicating the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. to benefit for the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation.

Sylvia is a romantic comedy about a marriage and an adopted pet who’s a sassy stray dog brought home from Central Park. As the story evolves, the dog becomes a major bone of contention for empty-nesters, Greg and Kate. Sylvia, the dog who is played by a human, offers her owners an escape from the frustrations of his job and unknowns of middle age. While Kate considers Sylvia a rival for Greg’s affection, Sylvia sees Kate as clueless about the bond between man and dog. The story features a series of hilarious and touching complications, but all circle around to the importance of compromise and the power of love.

A reviewer for the New York Daily News wrote: “I can only call it one of the most involving, beautiful, funny, touching and profound plays I have ever seen.” Vincent Canby, in his New York Times review of the original 1995 production, wrote: “Dramatic literature is stuffed with memorable love scenes. But none is as immediately delicious and dizzy as the one that begins the redeeming affair in A. R. Gurney’s new comedy, Sylvia.“

This show was originally produced Off-Broadway in 1995 with Sarah Jessica Parker as Sylvia and Blythe Danner and Charles Kimbrough as Kate and Greg. It has been produced in regional theatre, including by the Hampton Theatre Company in 1998. The play made its Broadway debut in 2015 with Annaleigh Ashford as as Sylvia, Matthew Broderick as Greg, and Julie White as Kate.

Hampton Theatre Company Artistic Director Diana Marbury directs. Set design is by Sean Marbury; lighting design by Sebastian Paczynski; sound by Seamus Naughton; and costumes by Teresa Lebrun.

Following the SASF benefit dress rehearsal on Wednesday, March 18, Sylvia runs at the Quogue Community Hall from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, April 5, with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. An additional matinee performance will be offered during the final weekend of the production, on Saturday, April 4, prior to the regular 8 p.m. performance that evening. A talkback with the cast will be offered following the 7 p.m. performance on Friday, March 27.

The Hampton Theatre Company is offering special dinner and theater packages in collaboration with the Westhampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays and Quogue libraries. A special lunch and theater package is also available for the Saturday matinee on April 4, with lunch before the show at the Quogue Club at the Hallock House. Discount tickets are available for veterans, Native Americans, under 35, students, and groups.

Hampton Theatre Company is postponing the opening of Sylvia due to Coronavirus.

Quogue Community Hall is located at 125 Jessup Avenue in Quogue. For reservations and information on all packages and available discounts, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.hamptontheatre.org.