This play is set in Sunnyside, Queens in 1965, on the day Pope Paul VI visited New York City. This dark comedy featured a zookeeper who dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter, his wife Bananas, their son – a GI headed for Vietnam, a trio of nuns, Artie’s friend – Billy Einhorn, Artie’s girlfriend – Bunny Flingus, and Billy’s girlfriend & Hollywood starlet – Corinna Stroller. Artie, a songwriter with little talent, performs unsuccessfully at the El Dorado Bar & Grill and returns to his cramped apartment in Queens. While protesting that he is “too old to be a young talent” – he calls his friend Billy and finagles an invitation to Hollywood where he thought he could be more successful.

Elated by his good fortune, Artie invites his girlfriend Bunny and his wife Bananas to join him in his curbside seats for the Pope’s motorcade. Unbeknownst to all, while they are away, their AWOL son returns to the apartment with plans to assassinate the Pope. The plot is interrupted when Artie returns to the apartment with starlet – Corinna. Artie attempts an impromptu audition with Corinna but is interrupted by the entrance of three nuns unable to see the motorcade and wanting to see it on TV. Corinna announces that she has two tickets to the Pope’s Mass at Yankee Stadium. In the pandemonium that ensures, Ronnie’s bomb goes off. In the aftermath, Billy arrives from Hollywood to mourn the explosion. Artie takes advantage of the sad circumstances with a desperate move to realize his own dreams. However, life unfolds with unexpected results for each character and Artie ultimately finds himself confined to his apartment with Bananas and one final decision to make.

PERFORMANCE DATES: October 24 -November 3, 1985

CAST: Artie Shaughnessy – Kent Ross, Ronnie Shaughnessy – Brian Richardson, Bunny Flingus – Roberta Scott, Bananas Shaughnessy – Karen Warshaw, Corrinna Stroller – Callie Lyons, Billy Einhorn -Greg Smith, Head Nun – Jana Ross, Little Nun – Tania Hopkins, Third Nun – Jill Austen, Policeman – Ken Dean, The White Man – Lyn Yost

CREW: Director – Don Steele, Stage Manager – Doug Austen, Assistant Stage Manager/Properties Master – Lyn Yost, SOund Design – Dean Freeman, Costume Design – Jana Ross, Hair/Make up – Johnny Martinez

MENU: Catering provided by Faye Trent and Brona Love.

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