"Carpe diem" is one of the major themes in Scene One Theatre's first show of the fall.
The comedy "Men Are Dogs" will run at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22-25 and 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at the theater, 623 Ohio St. Tickets cost $10 for the matinee and $15 for evening performances.
"Men Are Dogs" features a support group for single and divorced women led by Dr. Cecelia Monahan, a no-nonsense psychologist and widow who is trying to get her life and decisions about romance back together. Her patients are put to the test when a pompous actor, Tony Runsen, is hired by Cecelia to help with "role-playing" in the group - and the women come face-to-face with their frustrations.
Rebecca Seabaugh, the show's director, said the show's topics can be relevant to anyone and are important in this day and age.
"The main character is trying to decide if she wants love in her life again or to focus on her career," Seabaugh said. "Her group topic is 'relationship issues,' so other themes like perseverance, coming to terms with the choices you make and owning them start to come in. Those are things people can relate to, whether you're a man or woman, whether single, married or divorced."
Unlike other Scene One productions, all the "Men Are Dogs" shows will happen within a week. The crew has also been taking COVID-19 precautions such as masking during rehearsals, as some of the cast are teachers or work in the general public. They are hoping their choices can make the audience feel more comfortable as well, Seabaugh said.
"The stage is sectioned off to limit contact with the audience and cast, so (the audience) can sit safely thinking 'I'm 6 feet away from these people, and we're still maintaining these rules and trying to be cautious,'" she said.
Seabaugh has enjoyed working with the cast and the comedic ways the patients Cecelia works with take out their frustrations on the men in the show, who are hired to role-play in the support group, but things soon go awry for them. Actors John Wells, who plays Bob Crowley, and Ian Freeland, who plays Tony Runsen, add interesting sides to the plot as more is revealed about them, Seabaugh said.
"The women use these guys to discuss their frustrations in their former or current relationships," she said, "but it's OK for this situation because these guys are revealed to be jerks. So when the role-play comes in, these women are taking out their frustrations and the audience is like 'Good on you!' That makes it fun."
Other actors like Megan Wadley Richmond, who plays lead Cecelia, tactfully navigate the balance between comedy and harder topics. Seabaugh has worked with Richmond in other shows, but she said this was the first time directing her. She chose Richmond for the role for her thoughtfulness on stage as well as fitting the bill for the character.
Seabaugh hopes for those who relate to the characters that they would see "life is meant to be lived."
"I think the idea of getting back out there when you've been divorced or lost your partner, it's always challenging and hard to put yourself back out there. But I think (the show) is telling you what's the worst thing that could happen? Go out on that date, go meet that person for coffee, go take that walk," she said.
"It may not be anything, and it may be everything, so take the risk."
The theater asks that guests wear masks as they move around inside, but masks are optional once seated. To reserve seats, email [email protected] or call 573-635-6713.