NAPLES, Florida / Naples Florida Weekly / Art & Entertainment / April 23, 2009
It's never too late. Love is possible. You're never too old for it.
So claims "The Last Romance," which has its southeastern United States premiere at the Florida Repertory Theatre April 24-May 17.
At a recent lunch break, its two leads sat and talked about love, romance, aging and life.
David S. Howard (recently in the Rep's "Indian Blood") plays 80-year-old Ralph, who falls in love with Carol.
The feeling is mutual. Though they come from different economic and social backgrounds, sparks fly between the two when they meet in a dog park.
Carol (played by Sara Morsey, last seen at the Rep as Amanda in "The Glass Menagerie"), doesn't want to tell him her age, but will admit to being "beyond 70."
"She touchy about her age," says Ms. Morsey.
Though younger than her character, Ms. Morsey doesn't want to state her age, either, for fear directors would pigeonhole her. But it's obvious that she's playing a character much older than her own age. Offstage, without make-up and costuming, she and Mr. Howard could easily be mistaken for father and daughter.
So do people really fall in love in their senior years?
"Of course it happens," she says. Mr. Howard recalls a scene from "I'm Not Rappaport," in which he played an 81-year-old man: "He thinks he's falling in love. He says: 'It's not the sex, it's the
r romance. The schmeckler's out of business,
nj but the romance remains. The body just goes along for the ride.'"
There's a chemical attraction that never dies, he says. "I see the same thing happen with men even older than I am, and I'm older than dirt," he jokes. (Mr. Howard, like his character, Ralph, is 80.)
For example, he adds, there's a theater patron in Sarasota, where Mr. Howard has often performed. Now in his 90s, the man buried his wife a couple years ago. But then Mr. Howard saw him at an opening night reception.
"He had a girlfriend with him," he says. "He looked 10 years younger! He was in love!
"It happens."
"It could happen to anybody," Ms. Morsey says.
"It's a very natural and wonderful thing," Mr. Howard says. "My father-in-law is 96 and he has a lady friend who's 12 years younger. They have a very romantic, wonderfully exciting relationship. It's a romance.
"It happens."
"Of course it happens," says Ms. Morsey.
The mistaken idea that people don't fall in love or have sex in their golden years, is probably "perpetuated by the kids of people who don't want to think of their mom or dad having another spouse. And a lot of kids don't want the money to go to anyone else," Ms. Morsey says.
But the misperception might fade as the years pass, she adds. As Baby Boomers begin to become senior citizens themselves, they'll quite likely think about love and romance differently.
She believes that what's true in acting is also true in life: "We can all experience anything," she says. "What limits you is your imagination. People get caught in a place where they see themselves one way." But everyone has the ability to change their mind, she adds. "It's about making choices. If we can do that on stage as a character, why can't we do it in life?"
Robert Cacioppo, Florida Repertory Theater's producing artistic director, is directing "The Last Romance." In addition to Ms. Morsey and Mr. Howard, Carrie Lund and Jason Parrish round out the cast.
"The Last Romance" was written by Joe DiPietro, who wrote the popular "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," as well as Florida Rep's last production, the comic thriller "The Art of Murder."
"He's a wonderful craftsman," Mr. Howard says of the playwright. "Life encompasses so many things, so many ideas. That's part of what he put into this play. He does not want to put people into straitjackets... He has a very broad view of life."
In America's youth-obsessed culture, older people are often overlooked. Or invisible. They're not often seen as capable of carrying on a great romance or being swept up in passion.
After all, the reasoning goes, who would want someone with gray hair or wrinkles?
Some people believe older romances are based on who people are on the inside, rather than on what they look like, and that as people age, they begin to appreciate qualities they once overlooked.
But Ms. Morsey disagrees. "I believe that superficial young people become superficial older people, and cranky young people become cranky older people."
Acting, Mr. Howard contributes, pushes people to look beyond the superficial.
"You find other qualities in your life," he says. "You're constantly examining yourself… having to look into yourself for the raw material for your life and your understanding of your character. That helps you to appreciate more of the possibilities in life… It makes you a more complete person."
Is love in one's golden years sweeter, because it happens so late in life that you don't take it for granted, or bittersweet, because you realize there's not as much time left to share?
"It depends on the circumstances," Mr. Howard says. "In some situations, it can be bittersweet." For example, children might object to the new relationship, or health concerns might interrupt a budding romance.
But the two actors agree: Cupid isn't ageist. The cherub's arrows can strike young and old alike.
Love and marriage can happen at any age.
"Anything can happen at any age," Ms. Morsey declares.
"The Last Romance"
April 24-May 17
Florida Repertory Theatre,
Arcade Theatre, Fort Myers
www.FloridaRep.org.
Copyright © 2007—2009 Florida Media Group LLC.
April 23, 2009
USA: It happens - 'The Last Romance' is always possible
.
THE LAST ROMANCE is a heartwarming boy-meets-girl comedy. What makes this one unique is that the boy and the girl are senior citizens!
NAPLES, Florida / Naples Florida Weekly / Art & Entertainment / April 23, 2009
It's never too late. Love is possible. You're never too old for it.
So claims "The Last Romance," which has its southeastern United States premiere at the Florida Repertory Theatre April 24-May 17.
At a recent lunch break, its two leads sat and talked about love, romance, aging and life.
David S. Howard (recently in the Rep's "Indian Blood") plays 80-year-old Ralph, who falls in love with Carol.
The feeling is mutual. Though they come from different economic and social backgrounds, sparks fly between the two when they meet in a dog park.
Carol (played by Sara Morsey, last seen at the Rep as Amanda in "The Glass Menagerie"), doesn't want to tell him her age, but will admit to being "beyond 70."
"She touchy about her age," says Ms. Morsey.
Though younger than her character, Ms. Morsey doesn't want to state her age, either, for fear directors would pigeonhole her. But it's obvious that she's playing a character much older than her own age. Offstage, without make-up and costuming, she and Mr. Howard could easily be mistaken for father and daughter.
So do people really fall in love in their senior years?
"Of course it happens," she says. Mr. Howard recalls a scene from "I'm Not Rappaport," in which he played an 81-year-old man: "He thinks he's falling in love. He says: 'It's not the sex, it's the
r romance. The schmeckler's out of business,
nj but the romance remains. The body just goes along for the ride.'"
There's a chemical attraction that never dies, he says. "I see the same thing happen with men even older than I am, and I'm older than dirt," he jokes. (Mr. Howard, like his character, Ralph, is 80.)
For example, he adds, there's a theater patron in Sarasota, where Mr. Howard has often performed. Now in his 90s, the man buried his wife a couple years ago. But then Mr. Howard saw him at an opening night reception.
"He had a girlfriend with him," he says. "He looked 10 years younger! He was in love!
"It happens."
"It could happen to anybody," Ms. Morsey says.
"It's a very natural and wonderful thing," Mr. Howard says. "My father-in-law is 96 and he has a lady friend who's 12 years younger. They have a very romantic, wonderfully exciting relationship. It's a romance.
"It happens."
"Of course it happens," says Ms. Morsey.
The mistaken idea that people don't fall in love or have sex in their golden years, is probably "perpetuated by the kids of people who don't want to think of their mom or dad having another spouse. And a lot of kids don't want the money to go to anyone else," Ms. Morsey says.
But the misperception might fade as the years pass, she adds. As Baby Boomers begin to become senior citizens themselves, they'll quite likely think about love and romance differently.
She believes that what's true in acting is also true in life: "We can all experience anything," she says. "What limits you is your imagination. People get caught in a place where they see themselves one way." But everyone has the ability to change their mind, she adds. "It's about making choices. If we can do that on stage as a character, why can't we do it in life?"
Robert Cacioppo, Florida Repertory Theater's producing artistic director, is directing "The Last Romance." In addition to Ms. Morsey and Mr. Howard, Carrie Lund and Jason Parrish round out the cast.
"The Last Romance" was written by Joe DiPietro, who wrote the popular "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," as well as Florida Rep's last production, the comic thriller "The Art of Murder."
"He's a wonderful craftsman," Mr. Howard says of the playwright. "Life encompasses so many things, so many ideas. That's part of what he put into this play. He does not want to put people into straitjackets... He has a very broad view of life."
In America's youth-obsessed culture, older people are often overlooked. Or invisible. They're not often seen as capable of carrying on a great romance or being swept up in passion.
After all, the reasoning goes, who would want someone with gray hair or wrinkles?
Some people believe older romances are based on who people are on the inside, rather than on what they look like, and that as people age, they begin to appreciate qualities they once overlooked.
But Ms. Morsey disagrees. "I believe that superficial young people become superficial older people, and cranky young people become cranky older people."
Acting, Mr. Howard contributes, pushes people to look beyond the superficial.
"You find other qualities in your life," he says. "You're constantly examining yourself… having to look into yourself for the raw material for your life and your understanding of your character. That helps you to appreciate more of the possibilities in life… It makes you a more complete person."
Is love in one's golden years sweeter, because it happens so late in life that you don't take it for granted, or bittersweet, because you realize there's not as much time left to share?
"It depends on the circumstances," Mr. Howard says. "In some situations, it can be bittersweet." For example, children might object to the new relationship, or health concerns might interrupt a budding romance.
But the two actors agree: Cupid isn't ageist. The cherub's arrows can strike young and old alike.
Love and marriage can happen at any age.
"Anything can happen at any age," Ms. Morsey declares.
"The Last Romance"
April 24-May 17
Florida Repertory Theatre,
Arcade Theatre, Fort Myers
www.FloridaRep.org.
Copyright © 2007—2009 Florida Media Group LLC.
NAPLES, Florida / Naples Florida Weekly / Art & Entertainment / April 23, 2009
It's never too late. Love is possible. You're never too old for it.
So claims "The Last Romance," which has its southeastern United States premiere at the Florida Repertory Theatre April 24-May 17.
At a recent lunch break, its two leads sat and talked about love, romance, aging and life.
David S. Howard (recently in the Rep's "Indian Blood") plays 80-year-old Ralph, who falls in love with Carol.
The feeling is mutual. Though they come from different economic and social backgrounds, sparks fly between the two when they meet in a dog park.
Carol (played by Sara Morsey, last seen at the Rep as Amanda in "The Glass Menagerie"), doesn't want to tell him her age, but will admit to being "beyond 70."
"She touchy about her age," says Ms. Morsey.
Though younger than her character, Ms. Morsey doesn't want to state her age, either, for fear directors would pigeonhole her. But it's obvious that she's playing a character much older than her own age. Offstage, without make-up and costuming, she and Mr. Howard could easily be mistaken for father and daughter.
So do people really fall in love in their senior years?
"Of course it happens," she says. Mr. Howard recalls a scene from "I'm Not Rappaport," in which he played an 81-year-old man: "He thinks he's falling in love. He says: 'It's not the sex, it's the
r romance. The schmeckler's out of business,
nj but the romance remains. The body just goes along for the ride.'"
There's a chemical attraction that never dies, he says. "I see the same thing happen with men even older than I am, and I'm older than dirt," he jokes. (Mr. Howard, like his character, Ralph, is 80.)
For example, he adds, there's a theater patron in Sarasota, where Mr. Howard has often performed. Now in his 90s, the man buried his wife a couple years ago. But then Mr. Howard saw him at an opening night reception.
"He had a girlfriend with him," he says. "He looked 10 years younger! He was in love!
"It happens."
"It could happen to anybody," Ms. Morsey says.
"It's a very natural and wonderful thing," Mr. Howard says. "My father-in-law is 96 and he has a lady friend who's 12 years younger. They have a very romantic, wonderfully exciting relationship. It's a romance.
"It happens."
"Of course it happens," says Ms. Morsey.
The mistaken idea that people don't fall in love or have sex in their golden years, is probably "perpetuated by the kids of people who don't want to think of their mom or dad having another spouse. And a lot of kids don't want the money to go to anyone else," Ms. Morsey says.
But the misperception might fade as the years pass, she adds. As Baby Boomers begin to become senior citizens themselves, they'll quite likely think about love and romance differently.
She believes that what's true in acting is also true in life: "We can all experience anything," she says. "What limits you is your imagination. People get caught in a place where they see themselves one way." But everyone has the ability to change their mind, she adds. "It's about making choices. If we can do that on stage as a character, why can't we do it in life?"
Robert Cacioppo, Florida Repertory Theater's producing artistic director, is directing "The Last Romance." In addition to Ms. Morsey and Mr. Howard, Carrie Lund and Jason Parrish round out the cast.
"The Last Romance" was written by Joe DiPietro, who wrote the popular "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," as well as Florida Rep's last production, the comic thriller "The Art of Murder."
"He's a wonderful craftsman," Mr. Howard says of the playwright. "Life encompasses so many things, so many ideas. That's part of what he put into this play. He does not want to put people into straitjackets... He has a very broad view of life."
In America's youth-obsessed culture, older people are often overlooked. Or invisible. They're not often seen as capable of carrying on a great romance or being swept up in passion.
After all, the reasoning goes, who would want someone with gray hair or wrinkles?
Some people believe older romances are based on who people are on the inside, rather than on what they look like, and that as people age, they begin to appreciate qualities they once overlooked.
But Ms. Morsey disagrees. "I believe that superficial young people become superficial older people, and cranky young people become cranky older people."
Acting, Mr. Howard contributes, pushes people to look beyond the superficial.
"You find other qualities in your life," he says. "You're constantly examining yourself… having to look into yourself for the raw material for your life and your understanding of your character. That helps you to appreciate more of the possibilities in life… It makes you a more complete person."
Is love in one's golden years sweeter, because it happens so late in life that you don't take it for granted, or bittersweet, because you realize there's not as much time left to share?
"It depends on the circumstances," Mr. Howard says. "In some situations, it can be bittersweet." For example, children might object to the new relationship, or health concerns might interrupt a budding romance.
But the two actors agree: Cupid isn't ageist. The cherub's arrows can strike young and old alike.
Love and marriage can happen at any age.
"Anything can happen at any age," Ms. Morsey declares.
"The Last Romance"
April 24-May 17
Florida Repertory Theatre,
Arcade Theatre, Fort Myers
www.FloridaRep.org.
Copyright © 2007—2009 Florida Media Group LLC.
