Charlotte Players return with Baggage July 17 – 24

Two difficult, single people, Phyllis and Bradley, get their luggage mixed up at the airport. After a disagreeable first encounter, they form a friendship that eventually leads to the two discovering they are perfect for each other.
That’s the premise behind Baggage, a romantic comedy scheduled for July 17 – 26 at the Charlotte Players’ Langdon Playhouse, 1182 Market St., Port Charlotte. Directed by Jack Rabito, the show was originally set for April, until Coronavirus concerns forced the cancellation of all Charlotte Players shows and programs scheduled for March and April.
“I’m proud of the way our staff and volunteers stepped up as we went into recovery mode,” said executive director Sherrie Moody. “They worked tirelessly to keep our members and customers informed in the ever-changing environment we all faced.
“We received an inordinate volume of calls and appreciated people being patient. As a nonprofit organization, we exist on an extremely tight budget, and we thank the many ticket holders who donated their ticket costs to canceled events in a tremendous show of support.”
The Charlotte Players recently released a brochure for its 60th season. The brochure can be downloaded at www.charlotteplayers.org.
In addition to Baggage, canceled shows getting a second chance include Neil Simon’s Proposals and Sister’s Easter Catechism, both in March of 2021.
Two of the group’s major fundraisers, Kids OnStage and Comedy for a Cause, are undergoing changes. Logistics prevented the Players from presenting the annual Kids OnStage summer camp at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center (CPAC) this summer. Moody is looking for an alternate location and is hoping a positive announcement will be forthcoming.
As for Comedy for a Cause, Moody and organizer Steve Lineberry plan on offering a virtual show on Sept. 25, featuring an all-star lineup of former cast members.
Baggage, according to Broadway World, “is full of splendid surprises. Another superbly written comedy by award-winning playwright Sam Bobrick.”
Bobrick has written and co-written over 40 plays, most of them performed throughout the world. In 2011, he won the Mystery Writers of America “Edgar” Award for his play, The Psychic. For television, he created the teenage hit series Saved by The Bell and wrote for numerous comedies and musical variety shows.
Bill Olson, a Charlotte Players director and theater arts teacher at Charlotte High School, is the executive producer of Baggage. Tickets are $22 for adults and $11 for students and may be ordered at www.charlotteplayers.org or by calling 941-255-1022 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. There are four evening performance and two Sunday matinees.
“We will be practicing safe-distancing at the Langdon,” Moody said, “with extra ushers and other personnel on hand to sanitize restrooms and wipe down counters and door handles.”
Call 941-255-1022 for more details. “We have an ambitious schedule for 2020-21,” said Moody, “and we’re confident Baggage will get us started on the right foot.”