On The Market at Langhorne Players is a Blind Date Gone Right

by Abigail Williams

There’s nothing like dating in the modern era. No, really… there’s NOTHING like it. For people of all ages, the dating game can be a struggle and blow to self-esteem or make you the star in your own rom-com movie. In Langhorne Players’ production of On the Market, Charlotte (Janet Rosenberg) experiences it all and more.

Written by Jason Odell Williams, On the Market is a modern rom-com following Long Island real estate agent, Charlotte, as she re-enters the dating world after her late husband’s passing. On the Market had its world premiere on October 15, 2022 by CenterStage Theatre at the Jewish Community Center in Rochester, NY. 

Located in Bucks County, the Langhorne Players invites audiences into its quaint, yet cozy and historic theatre space. The box office and lobby space is warm and inviting with dark wood accents, warm lighting, and photos of past productions lining the walls. The theatre space itself was intimate and charming. This is a space that allows audiences to feel truly immersed in the story. This play was a perfect choice for a production house of this size!

This production of On the Market was directed by Judi Parrish, who also served as the Sound Designer and Set Designer. Parrish did a fantastic job with the blocking of this play. All characters’ movements felt lived in, natural, and fitting to each scene. One of my biggest pet peeves is stagnant formations and this was avoided entirely. Parrish balances the comedy and sadness within this play perfectly. My favorite moment of the play was when James crosses to Charlotte at the end of his final letter. It was such a simple, but touching moment that left me in tears. Additionally, Parrish deserves extra kudos for their work on the set which was one of my favorite aspects of the production. The play features many locations, but Parrish’s set consists of three distinct locations set across the stage. A restaurant on stage left, a cozy living room at center stage, and an office space on stage right. The living room scene was multipurpose as Charlotte's house and various homes she shows to clients throughout the play. Just by looking at each location, audiences knew where we were without the actors alluding to it through the script. Each location was unique from flooring to wallpaper. I’d also like to shout out the dedicated set builders (Judi Parrish, John Tancini, Erin Leder) for assembling Parrish’s vision beautifully.

Kristin Schrier served as the production’s Stage Manager. She was joined by Assistant Stage Manager, Ellen Cicchitti. The two made an excellent team! There were many lighting cues, scene changes, and varying entrances but the cast and crew did not miss a beat thanks to these two. The show was called at an excellent pace!

It’s very rare that lighting in a community theatre production wows me, but consider me wowed by Lighting Designer Liz Minder. Minder did a phenomenal job and really left an impact on the production. The audience was able to tell what was happening in a scene just from lighting. Some of my favorite moments consist of a flashback scene that uses dimmed and hazy lighting and the moment where Charlotte is sitting on the couch backlit after a shocking revelation. Minder also uses spotlights when the actors, primarily Rosenberg, are speaking outward when providing the speaking voice of a letter or assuming a narration role. It was a nice way for the audience to understand, “Hey, this person isn’t actually here saying this thing!”

Intimacy Coordinator, Katie Sillitti, also deserves her flowers for her work on this production. Intimacy coordination is often overlooked, but it is a hard job to do well and Sillitti excelled greatly. The actors seemed very comfortable with one another and there was no inkling of awkward tension. Rounding out the production team is Melissa Rittmann and Rittzy Productions LLC with costumes. There were a ton of costume changes in this show between real estate clients and numerous failed matches for Charlotte. Each item of clothing was excellently picked to fit the personality of the characters. Additionally, the costumes were neatly ironed and clean! A personal favorite of mine was Charlotte's business-savvy yet chic wardrobe.

The cast consists of four actors, with three rotating through various small featured roles. Rosenberg leads the narrative as Charlotte, while Amy Lewis portrays her best friend, Diane. Dan Hornberger plays the pair’s quirky coworker, Frank, and Nigel Rogers portrays Charlotte’s late husband, James. Overall, this cast had impeccable chemistry. They all played off each other in a way that makes these relationships feel believable.

The role of Charlotte seems to be a challenging one. The actor needs to balance comedy with despair and grief in a way that captures audiences from beginning to end. Rosenberg is a great actor with leading lady energy through and through. While she conquered Charlotte's comedic lines, her vulnerability occasionally felt artificial. I was a fan of Rosenberg’s performance, but in those select moments I was wanting more.

There is a scene between Diane and Charlotte in which the two get into a fight. To avoid spoilers, I will keep the details vague and simply say that Diane does something that is particularly difficult to forgive. In response, Charlotte says several deeply hurtful things to Diane. Through Rosenberg’s portrayal of the scene, however, it often felt as though Charlotte was not as upset as the dialogue suggested. I wanted to see more hesitation, stuttering, and a sense of Charlotte working through her thoughts as she struggled to process the situation and find the words to express her anger.

However, none of this should take away from the excellent work Rosenberg does throughout the production. She has a commanding stage presence and carries the production with grace. There is one particular moment that delivered the vulnerability I had been looking for. At the end of the play, when Charlotte listens to the final letter left by James, Rosenberg gives a genuinely touching performance. Although she does not say anything, she listens and reacts to the letter in a heartbreaking manner that does not feel overdone. It is in this moment, through her emotional reaction, that Rosenberg demonstrates just how effective her performance can be.

Lewis portrays Diane wonderfully. You can feel the genuine love she has for Charlotte even if her ways of showing it are morally incorrect. Similar to Rosenberg, I feel Lewis could have given the audience a bit more natural vulnerability in that argument/scene. However, Lewis absolutely nailed her comedic moments. My favorite element to her portrayal was the relationship between her and Frank. Additionally, I loved Lewis in her smaller roles, especially as the hilarious pregnant woman at the end of the play. She was a standout!

Hornberger plays a perfect socially awkward nerd! Frank had me burying my head in my hands from secondhand embarrassment one moment and melting at his sweetness the next. Hornberger portrays Frank with a unique quirky charm that is just completely loveable. He also leaves his mark on the production through various featured roles. A personal favorite of mine was the flamboyant multi-colored scarf worn by a real estate client. With Hornberger’s interpretation of his roles, audiences root for Frank and the other featured characters from their first scene until the end.

James, played by Rogers, is the character who tugs at the heartstrings the most. In addition to portraying James, the audience has the privilege of seeing Rogers take on a multitude of featured roles throughout the play. Rogers is the definition of a character actor. While the other featured characters are distinguished by unique accents and voices, Rogers commands the stage through his ability to completely transform himself for each character he portrays. However, his portrayal of James was my favorite. James is heartwarming, loveable, silly, and deeply moving, and Rogers brings each of these qualities to life with genuine emotion. He particularly steals the show during James’s final monologue, using dynamic shifts in volume, pacing, and emotional intensity to create a performance that brought the audience to tears.

Overall, On the Market at the Langhorne Players made me laugh, cry, and smile in all the best ways. By the end of the show, I am confident there was not a dry eye in the house. I am incredibly grateful to have experienced this standout production. As a self-proclaimed rom-com connoisseur, this one was a definite hit.

You have until August 30 to catch On the Market at the Langhorne Players, and I cannot recommend it enough. Additionally, on August 23, audiences can stick around after the matinee for a talkback with Williams, the playwright. If you are looking for a production that will leave you laughing through one moment and reaching for a tissue the next, On the Market is well worth the trip. I know I will be thinking about this one for quite some time, and I am eagerly awaiting my next visit to the Langhorne Players!

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.langhorneplayers.org/buy-tickets