The female version of The Odd Couple, by Neil Simon, will be presented in dinner-theater format at Garden Terrace Tea Room Feb. 14-17. Dinner will be served beginning at 6:30 p.m., with the play at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14-16. On Feb. 17 lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m., followed by the play. The Tea Room is located at 1035 Nederland Ave., Nederland.

For reservations, call the Tea Room at 729-3832 or PALT at 722-7732. Tickets are $22 and include dinner and the show. Parties of six or more are requested to pay in advance at the Tea Room for a reserved table. The Valentine's Day opening will feature special presentations and prizes for romantics in the audience.

The female version of Simon's play premiered starring Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers. In PALT's current production, actresses Ida Steele and Rosie Einkauf star as the title couple. Ida Steele plays Olive Madison, the "slob," a role made famous in the male counterpart by Walter Matthau. Olive takes in Florence Unger, who has separated from her husband, and is a neurotic, suicidal, neat-compulsive mess.

In the male version, Oscar had poker buddies. In the female version, Olive has a weekly trivia game. The ladies who play trivia each week at Olive's apartment are played by Pattie Daniel as Mickey, the cop; Janice Terrell as the naive Vera; Terri Harley as the romantic Vera; and Nora Copley as the feisty Sylvie. Phillip Gray and Michael DeRouen will play the two Spaniards Olive invites over for a romantic evening. Mike Hayes returns as the director of this show following his success of Steel Magnolias.

Steele has been active in PALT as a board member, actress and director. Her recent acting credits include The Elephant Man, The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wilde and other shows and revues. She has performed locally and toured with Shawn Bruno's professional productions of The Gin Game, On Golden Pond and The Cemetery Club. Einkauf's numerous acting credits in area productions include the first dinner theater at the Tea Room, Steel Magnolias, and BCP's production of Moon Over Buffalo. She has also appeared in Gypsy, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Annie Get Your Gun and Calamity Jane, among others.

This is the second dinner-theater collaboration between PALT and the Garden Terrace Tea Room, which began with Steel Magnolias last fall. Paula Talent, manager of the Tea Room, and PALT President Phillip Gray continue to plan more productions in the future. It is a combination of good food, a nice atmosphere and spacious accommodations. Hope to see you there!

"Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight!"

With that song, one of the most famous opening numbers ever, the brilliant career of Stephen Sondheim as a Broadway composer and lyricist took off. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum gave him his first solo Broadway show and one of his most enduring creations. The original 1962 production launched the career of Zero Mostel. In 1996, a Broadway revival starring Nathan Lane in the same role of the scheming slave Pseudolus.

Based on the Roman comedies of Plautus, it's a light, frothy entertainment (as promised in the opening) led by Danny McClintoch Jr. as that scheming slave Pseudolus. The plot also involves Benny Bryan as fellow slave Hysterium, Dana Deggs as the vacant Philia, the young hero, Hero, played by Isaiah Good, and the testosterone-oozing soldier Miles Gloriosus, portrayed by Daniel Ellis.

The rest of the PALT cast includes John Holland as Senex, Ann Holland as Domina, Carl Heubach as Erronius, Michael Chang as Lycus, Brook Doyle as Tintinabula, Anna Wueller as Vibrata, Jenny Yeats as Gymnasia and Cassie Queen as Panacea. The Genimae twins are played by Janet Wise and Jessica Cascio, Courtney Wind is Jasmine and the Proteans are Judd Farris, Jacob Good, Wesley Deggs and Patrick Lene'. Gale Walker is directing.

Pseudolus is the laziest slave in Rome and has but one wish: to purchase his freedom. When his master and mistress leave for the day he finds out that the young master has fallen in love with a virgin in the house of Lycus a slave dealer specializing in beautiful women. Pseudolus concocts a deal in which he will be freed if he can procure the girl for young Hero. Of course, not even the conniving slave can foresee the tangled web that he is about to weave.

Don't worry -- Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight!

Plans have been set for a revival of an end-of-the-season banquet. It will be held at the Garden Terrace Tea Room and is tentatively set for early June. Members and patrons will be able to enjoy great food and special entertainment and be able to vote on their favorite performers and shows of the past season. Details will be in our next newsletter.

PALT's general membership meeting was held Jan. 20. Lots of hot topics were discussed, including the parking lot situation, the banquet, the children's summer production and shows for the next season. The membership also gave a big thank-you to Gardner Clark for his recent contribution. Rose Moon received kudos for her lobby displays of recent PALT shows. All season ticket holders are eligible and are encouraged to attend general membership meetings. The next meeting is scheduled May 19. Let your voice be heard ...

Speaking of next season, we are looking for show directors to submit their show requests. Potential directors must have a list of submitted show titles, including a short summary, major production requirements (large set, period costumes, etc.) and cast breakdown. Special consideration will be given to shows on the list voted by audience members during A Christmas Story. Please keep the list of shows to a maximum of six. New directors should include their qualifications and experience. Mail in your list to PALT or deliver it to Gale Walker or Phillip Gray. Deadline for submission is Feb. 28.

We would like to thank all the patrons who contributed food items during the run of A Christmas Story. The theater was able to present five large boxes of canned goods to the United Board of Missions food pantry. Thanks to all who participated. We hope to do more projects like this in the future.

Current members wishing to nominate life members for consideration may present those names between now and April 30. Send nominations to our mailing address. Please include an explanation of why you think this person is deserving of the award. The PALT board will review the candidates and present any finalists for a vote at the general meeting in May.

Need to get rid of some old stuff? How about calling us first? PALT is always on the lookout for old clothes for costumes and household items for set or prop pieces. Just call the reservation line and tell us what you have. We may not need everything, but you never know. Coincidentally, we are overstocked on house paint. Anyone wanting some free paint, come and see us. We need to clear out a bunch of gallons.

See you at the next show!

Kerry Pedigo, our historian, is continuing to work on collecting programs, pictures and articles to donate or copy for our PALT scrapbook. People who have seen it know she has done an amazing job so far and needs your help now. Here is list of shows that Kerry is still looking for. Please call her at 727-6018 if you have any program, picture or article from this list.

PALT's new web site is at http://users.eonet.net/palt/. Susan Walker is credited for her great work. She has us up and running with plans to add more as we can get her items to put on it. Thanks, Susan!

Auditions for the hilarious comedy Lie, Cheat and Genuflect will be held at the Playhouse on Feb. 25 and 26. The cast calls for four males and four females over 18 years old. It's the final show of the PALT season. Auditions begin at 7 p.m. Call Jean Heubach for more details.