Actor to direct for first time

TNT is also preparing for its '24-Hour Theatre Experiment.'
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
To many area theatergoers, Ben Gavitt is a familiar face onstage. But now he is involved with a new venture: directing his first play. "Here on the Flight Path" will be Trumbull New Theatre's summer production, and Gavitt is excited that the committee chose this play.
"My wife and I saw it the first time when we were on our honeymoon near Niagara Falls in 2002," said Gavitt. "It was performed in a dinner theater by one guy, and one girl playing all three female parts. We thought it would be funnier with three different girls, after we heard and read about other theaters doing it that way."
The play, written by Canadian Norm Foster, premiered in 1997. It is reminiscent of Neil Simon's "Last of the Red Hot Lovers." A divorced guy, John Cummings, who is a newspaper columnist, lives in an apartment right outside the flight path of an airport in Toronto. Within three-and-a-half years, three women move in and out of a nearby apartment.
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"John is divorced and lonely, and would really like to get all of these women into the sack." said Gavitt. "He is trying to work on his novel, but they keep distracting him with their problems."
Fay is a call girl. "She's really a prostitute, but not a street hooker," Gavitt said.
"They get to be friends, and she thinks he is such a nice guy, she offers him a freebie, but by that time, they are such good friends, he doesn't want to ruin it."
Fay is played by Margie King, and the second girl, Angel, is played by Maria Wright.
"Angel is an aspiring actress/musician from out in the country [Alberta]," said Gavitt. "She's coming to the big city for the first time, and it's a shock to her. She is this ball of energy, and her motto is 'Don't rain on my parade.' She's really a very funny, flaky character who tries to get a part in any play she can."
"Gwen is a driving instructor who is really depressed, and separated from her husband," Gavitt continued. "John actually does get to romance her a little bit. They go out to dinner. She has only been with one man, her husband, who was her high school sweetheart." Amy Burd plays Gwen, and her husband, Tom, plays John.
'24-Hour Theatre Experiment'
TNT is also preparing for its second "24-Hour Theatre Experiment," which will take place the first weekend of August. Gavitt and his wife, Sonja, are in charge of this event.
"We did this last year, and it turned out really well," Gavitt said. "We bring in writers and directors, and actors who will audition with one prop on a Friday night. We take photos, then the actors go off to a pizza party. The writers and directors stay and form teams. Last year we had three teams, but we are planning for four teams this year. The writers stay up all night and write 15-minute plays that they create there. The next day, the directors arrive early, then the actors come a little later, and they spend all day rehearsing. In the evening, we put on the show for the public. It is kind of like a competition."
Gavitt said that directors and writers must call first, but actors who want to audition should just show up. Gavitt can be reached at (330) 288-4014.