The First Annual Hot August Nights evening of one act plays, at The Little Theatre in Newtown, covers the theater gamut from drama to farce. Opening night on July 31 of this two week run being presented by Town Players of Newtown resulted in a fully satisfied audience. They laughed, shed a tear, and were moved by the selections, the music, and the performances.

This wide ranging group of shorts played like a compilation of excellent short stories. Several were well established playwrights, such as Anton Chekhov’s The Proposal, a hilarious take on a marriage proposal that is conducted as though the partners are long time marrieds.

A.R. Gurney’s The Problem gives insight into a seriously twisted union that gets its kicks out of deception.

Porch, by Jack Heifner, is a slice of southern life with tragedy in the making, as a lonely mother and daughter take each other down.

Original works included Wanted for Dinner, directed by Terry Polvay; and Lovely Letters, written by Michael Giuliano, who created a piece where a young couple of intendeds come full circle to find each other again, through the US Postal Service.

Each piece stands on its own and has a unique set, ambience and message.

The performances were all good. The players did their job of completing the story arc in the smaller time frames. Each accomplished a distinct character and delivered a fully fleshed out portrayal.

Sherry Asch as Dot in Porch gives a bravura performance as she tears away the thin skin of her grown daughter Lucille (Danette Riso), in the most insidious of manners.

Bryell Burgus was divine in The Proposal as she gleefully contradicted, argued and flat out fought with her assumed intended, the outrageously psychosomatically afflicted fiancé played to hilarious effect by Brian DeToma. Roberto Perez is steady as the bride’s father.

Lovely Letters was perfectly cast with a sweet, young couple in love, until the enforcement of family traditions sends them to their corners.  Sara and Scott, played by Jennifer Ju and Sam Bass respectively, exchange tenderness and barbs through a nosy, mailman played by David Bass.

In The Problem, a thirtysomething middle aged couple played by Sheri Bresson and Shawn Brown are a hoot as they uncover the lengths each will go to betray the other. 

The entire cast of Wanted For Dinner —Pam Meister, Brian DeToma, Christopher Cooney and Miles Everett — was energetic and appropriately unnerved.

Each of the directors put their own individual stamp on their choices and the effect was an exciting night of theater. It should be mentioned that the music choices for each of the shorts were all just great and effectively commented on and enhanced the play they were assigned to.

There are only so many “Hot August Nights” every year, don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy one of them thanks to Town Players.

There are two performances remaining of “Hot August Nights — One Acts,” on Friday and Saturday, August 7-8. Curtain is 8 pm each night.

Tickets are $18, $10 children 10 and under for all performances. The production may not be suitable for younger children.

Performances are at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Road in Newtown.

Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 203-270-9144 or by sending an email to reservations@newtownplayers.org.

Editor’s Note: Wanted For Dinner was written by Elizabeth Young, who reviewed the show but did not otherwise have a direct connection to the production.