To mark its 60th birthday, local theater group Doha Players is set to present the classic play Black Comedy at Education City this month.
The group, which performed to sold-out crowds during its Les Miserables rendition earlier this year, has decided to reprise Black Comedy for the third time in Doha Players history.
The theater group first performed it in 1978, and again in 1993.
Speaking to Doha News, group member Elaine Potter explained why the team has decided to perform the play once more, 21 years later:
“What a better way to celebrate our 60th birthday. Black Comedy is an incredibly funny play and it has been such a long time since we performed it. We now have a new audience to share the play with as a lot of our previous audiences are no longer in Doha. They have recommended us doing another production, rating it highly.”
Unlike most of its past shows, this particular Doha Players performance is only open to adults, however.
Potter told Doha News that this is because the play “contains adult humor and we don’t think that children would understand it and would be easily bored.”
Black Comedy
Written by British playwright Peter Shaffer, the play explores societal issues through its comedic storyline.
Set in a London apartment during the 1960s, a couple hosts a party at their home and tries to impress their guests with antique furniture stolen from their neighbors.
But the party doesn’t go quite as planned for the engaged couple – a power outage dominates the course of the evening and unexpected, unwanted guests show up.
Humor is derived from Shaffer’s use of puns, unexpected mishaps and general comedy during the party, with the title of the play being a pun itself.
Black Comedy made its successful debut in London in 1965 before making it big on Broadway, bagging five Tony Awards for its Broadway productions.
Doha’s performance
Directed by Kathy Searcy with the help of the Doha Players production team, Black Comedy will take to the stage from Oct. 16 to 19 and Oct. 22 to 25 at Education City’s Black Box Theatre at the Student Center. Shows begin at 7:30pm.
Due to ongoing construction, there is limited parking at the Student Center, and visitors are advised to park at Education City’s Ceremonial Court Carpark and then walk to the building.
No food or drink is allowed inside the 225-seat theater, but snacks and meals are on sale inside the Student Center for guests to enjoy before or after the show.
Latecomers will not be admitted to the show until intermission.
Tickets are currently being sold at The One stores at Landmark and Villaggio malls for QR75/person.
Doha Players will close its 60th anniversary with one more play this year. Peter Pan will be performed from Dec. 3 to 6.
Although further details are not yet available, production for the family-friendly performance is currently underway.
Will you be attending Black Comedy? Thoughts?
