Local playwright bringing second drama to Oakland

By Guy D’Astolfo

YOUNGSTOWN — David Anthony again explores relationships in his second play, “Close 2 U.”

The playwright-director has rented the Oakland Center for the Arts to stage the play this weekend and next.

It’s the second time Anthony has presented one of his original dramas. “Unfaithful” was performed on the Stambaugh Auditorium stage for one performance and attracted a respectable 500 attendees.

“Close 2 U” is something of a sequel to “Unfaithful.” It uses the same characters and many of the same actors.

“In the first act, it sums up what happened in ‘Unfaithful’ just to get everybody up to date, and then it’s like Part 2,” said Anthony. “But it’s a complete play in itself. Even if you didn’t see ‘Unfaithful,’ you will know what’s going on.”

Both of his plays focus on the same themes. “It’s about showing your love, and getting closer to the people you love,” said Anthony. Issues include infidelity and strained relationships.

In “Close 2 U,” a couple breaks up, and the woman winds up in an abusive relationship, while the man fights to get her back. The two-hour play, which Anthony said has comedic undertones, is set in the interior of a house.

The cast includes Jason Rosendary, Julie Palumbo (a regular at Top Hat Productions), Tammy Harris, Sherri Grayer and Bobby Croom. Rosendary wrote and choreographed the songs.