From now until opening night on Feb. 2, the Livingston Post will be profiling the cast members of the Community Theatre of Howell’s Production of “Squabbles.”
Laura Mandernack is making her CTH debut in “Squabbles,” playing the stern Mrs. Fisher. As they watch the craziness and the arguments unfold on stage, Mandernack is promising a LOT of laughs for the audience.
The play pits a father-in-law against a mother in a comedic succession of squabbles. Jerry Sloan is a successful writer of advertising jingles married to an equally successful lawyer. Living with the happy couple is the not so happy Abe Dreyfus, Jerry’s curmudgeon of a father-in-law. Abe is a funny guy to the audience, not to Jerry.
The situation is exacerbated when Jerry’s mother Mildred loses her house in a fire and needs a place to stay. Abe and Mildred can’t stand each other. This play is one hilarious confrontation after another until the heartwarming finale in which the oldsters discover that really, each is not so bad.
Mandernack and her husband Daniel have two children, Spencer (a U.S. Army officer training at Ft. Rucker) and Ian (a Meridian Township police officer). They recently moved to Howell, where she graduated from high school in 1981.
Here’s a closer look at Laura Mandernack:
How did you get involved in CTH and what shows have you been involved with in the past? What are some of your favorite roles from the past, either with CTH or other groups?
This is my first show with CTH. I’ve been very active with Pinckney Players since 2006. Some of my favorite roles there are “Calendar Girls” (Chris), “Into the Woods” (Stepmother), “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Pseudala), and “Noises Off” (Mrs. Clackett). I was also in “Love, Loss and What I Wore” at Tipping Point Theater in Northville and “The Dixie Swim Club” at The Dio in Pinckney.
What do you most enjoy about doing shows with CTH?
I’ve been impressed by the shows that I’ve seen in the past from CTH, so I thought I’d audition now that I live five minutes from the theater.
What’s been your favorite part of the “Squabbles” experience?
CTH is a very well-run, tight-knit organization, full of hard workers that have lots of fun together. It’s been fun getting to know everyone and working together to build this show.
What can audience members expect when they see the show?
Expect a lot of laughs. The script is laugh-out-loud funny!
The Community Theatre of Howell’s production of “Squabbles” takes the stage Feb. 2-4 and 9-11 at the Howell High School Freshman Campus, 1400 W. Grand River Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday each weekend.
Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for students and seniors, available at Finding Roots in Howell, Maria’s School of Dance in Fowlerville, Big Acre in Brighton, and Ed Bock Feed and Stuff in Pinckney. Tickets are also available by calling 517-545-1290, or online at cththeatre.org. You can buy tickets by clicking here.
