Lakeside Little Theatre is currently staging “Dinner,” a peculiar but quite funny play by Moira Buffini.
This is an interesting choice by LLT and directors Monnie King and Peter King pull it off with skill. The action is confined to a dinner party thrown by the unpleasant and very wealthy Paige (Lynn Gutstadt) to celebrate her husband’s new book. Husband Lars (Brian King) has written a self-help book called “Beyond Belief” where he explains how everyone can get what they want in life by following his psychological drivel. Paige has not read the book, although she has “read all the reviews.”
Paige has invited microbiologist friend Hal (Stan Rawson), and his newscaster wife Sian (Linda Goman), as well as Member of Parliament Bob and his artist girlfriend Wynne (Debra Felix). Much to Paige’s disappointment (and Lars’s excitement), Bob has dumped Wynne and has not come for dinner. From the start, we see that Paige is motivated to make everyone as uncomfortable as possible while offering food that is symbolic (Primordial Soup anyone?) rather than edible. Serving in the background is the waiter (Greg Custer) whom Paige has found on a shady website. Her cryptic comments to him (as well as his fat pay envelope) hint that she has hired him for more than serving drinks—though he does serve an impressive amount of drinks!
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