“Room Service,” the classic comedy.
Written by Allen Boretz and John Murray. Directed by Stephen Alan Carver.
Produced for The Dreamhouse Ensemble by Alex Sol.

The Space, 665 N. Heliotrope Dr., Hollywood. The venue is located between
Normandie and Vermont and is east of the Melrose Ave. exit of the 101 Freeway.
June 17- August 14, 2005. Fridays and Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 7.

“Room Service” was a 1937 Broadway hit by Allen Boretz and John Murray. In a situation not too unfamiliar to theatre people, it deals with a Broadway theater company that has no money and the producer is trying to flim-flam his way in a hotel until opening day, with a cast of 19 and a bill of over $ 1,000 and counting. If the backers come through with the promised financing, the worries are over; if the production is a hit, the money worries are over and if the manager doesn't throw them out before the show, they just might make it. But the Hotel's general manager, wants to make a good impression with the corporate folks, so he issues an ultimatum - pay now or leave!
Gordon Miller is the double-dealing harried producer who makes up stories at the drop of a hat, and invents situations on the fly just to try to keep the production going. With a slick hair style and a pencil thin mustache, Stephen Marshall is perfect in the role, never afraid to overact and making sure he yells really loud when a funny line comes up (to make sure the audience gets it!)
But not only Gordon has money problems. His director and stage manager also have been thrown out of their hotels so now they all converge in Miller's room hoping to stay there. Adding to the problem is Leo Davis, the playwright who drops in from Oswego, New York and is about as penniless as all the others put together. Miller's girl friend, Christine tries to hook him up with a backer and remains loyal and starry eyed throughout the ordeals. (Robyn York)
Jay Bingham and Ronald Quigley have some great lines and situations in their roles, and make the most of them, trying to help Miller out of the his many scams just to get the show on the boards.
The whole play deals with Gordon Miller always staying one step ahead of his creditors, and hotel director Gregory Wagner trying to get him. Miller goes so far as to have Leo feign a suicide just to keep from getting evicted. Dave Parks is excellent as the blustery hotel general manager, who insists on punctuating every sentence with a loud "God D**m it!" - even when he feels good! After a night of dodging the creditors and pulling fast ones on the hotel managers, the producer and his cronies realize that they are really hungry - so what can they do? Call Room Service? Well, sort of. The time honored concept of trading a favor for a part in the show is in full force here, with an unexpected surprise to all.
The 1937 comic situations seem to travel across the decades reasonably well, but there are some gaps in the dialog and some lagging in the action, with a few blown cues here and there.
There are a few snickers in the beginning and Act II has some giggles, but it's not until the middle of Act III, (opening night of Miller's play) that the laughs really take off and we hear some genuine guffaws from the audience. In the end, the show goes on after a silent backer almost pulls out, and Mr. Wagner's boss almost fires him, except for the success of the play in the hotel's theater.
Every story needs a love interest and in this one, Leo finds love with Hilda Manney who works for the Hotel. With the success of the play, Miller gets the money he needs to pay off all his debts - for now.
The cast of “Room Service” includes Stuart Barron, Jay Bingham, Jessica Blair, Jason Flowers, Alim Kouliev, Stephen Marshall, Dave Parke, Ronald Quigley, Christopher Rogers, John Sama, Bill J. Stevens, Mark Woods and Robyn York. Stephen Alan Carver directs.

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