"Last of the Red Hot Lovers"

Rail Theatre hit the boards again this spring with another top quality offering, "Last of the Red Hot Lovers", in the Mullingar Arts Centre from February 26 to 28.They are once again tracking through familiar territory, returning to the pen of the inimitable Neil Simon, one of the greatest observers of the human psyche."Last of the Red Hot Lovers" is a typical Simon tour de force with his usual take on love, life and the human mind, filled with comedy, angst, pathos, regret and ultimately realisation.The play centres around Barney, played by Aidan Ennis, a restaurateur who is going through a midlife crisis.After 17 years of marriage, Barney is looking for some extra marital activity but is not really sure if that is what he really wants as he battles his conscience, and his attempted conquests, with equal hilarity and awkwardness.His first attempt is with a customer at his restaurant, an American lady called Elaine, played by Orla Duffy, who is hardly what you would call a wallflower. Elaine is feisty and forward and when she meets Barney at his mother"s apartment, where all the action (or lack of) is set, she leaves him in no doubt as to her intentions.Next to visit the attempted lothario"s boudoir is the free spirited, hippie, struggling actress Bobbi Michelle (Fionnuala Kenny) whom he meets in the park.Bobbi Michelle is a child of her era and Barney is overwhelmed with her joie de vivre with hilarious consequencesFinally, he tries to woo his friend Jeanette, played by Mary Hughes, a pal of his wife, that also happens to be his friend"s wife!.Jeanette"s husband has just admitted an affair and she sees this as the perfect opportunity for revenge.Directed by Sean Lynch, "Last of the Red Hot Lovers" promises to be another triumph for the very forward thinking Rail Theatre Company.Tickets are available from the Mullingar Arts Centre box office on 044 9347777 or from reception.