Harstine Island troupe performs monologues, poems

Ten local performers will bring to life pieces by Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare and themselves in Harstine island Theatre Club's "A Reader's Theatre Collection of Monologues, Poems and Original Works" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Harstine Island Community Club.

Admission is donation of nonperishable food for the Pioneer Food Bank. The club is at 3391 E. Harstine Island Road North.

Daniel Frishman, the show's director, became the group's manager last year. His long list of TV acting credits includes "Night Court," "The Jeffersons" and "Moonlighting," and the movies "The Return of the Jedi" and "Under the Rainbow." He's lived on Harstine Island since 1992.

As for this weekend's collection of monologues, "I was looking for something to ease back into after COVID," he said.

Frishman selected the performance pieces.

"I realized if they had to pick their own pieces, it would get expensive," he said.

"I was looking for light-hearted pieces," he said. There's only one drama in it, 'Macbeth.' "

Frishman will perform Shakepeare's "All the World's a Stage" monologue from the comedy "As You Like It."

Barb Hubbard, who has been acting and directing with the group since 2004, will perform a monologue as Lady Bracknell from the Oscar Wilde comedy "The Importance of Being Earnest" and an original comic piece.

Frishman's daughter Shelley Starrett is making her stage debut, but she's no stranger to acting. She recently moved to the island from Los Angeles, where she acted on the TV shows "Get Shorty" and "Unusual Suspects" and in the 2019 comic film "VHYes." The movie was directed by Jack Henry Robbins, whose parents are Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon; both appear in the film.

Becca Byykkonnen, a sophomore at Shelton High School, has performed in several plays and musicals, including "Cinderella: A Christmas Story." Sheryl Hughey is making her debut with the group after moving to the island from Maple Valley last year.

Kenny Latimer has been active with the group for a decade, and has acted in eight plays and built two sets. Theater veteran Anita Chandler performed in the group's most recent production, the female version of the Neil Simson comedy "The Odd Couple" in July. Liz Kopp joined the group four years ago, and in July played Sylvie in "The Odd Couple."

Pat Treiber has been an actor, director, playwright and set designer, and has played Santa Claus twice. Amy Byykkonen, a teacher at Pioneer Elementary School, has been involved in the group's last three productions.

Joseph Stitzel is a Shelton High School graduate studying musical theater at Pacific Lutheran University. His acting credits with the group include "A Thousand Clowns" and "The Velveteen Rabbit."

The group next stages "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3, and 2 p.m. Dec. 4. Admission will be free.

If You Go:

Who: The Harstine Island Theatre Club

What: A Reader's Theatre Collection of Monologues, Poems and Original Works

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Harstine Island Community Hall, 3391 E. Harstine Island Road N.

Admission: Donation of non-perishable food item to Pioneer Food Bank