CHAMP AND HIS FOUR WOMEN by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

Champ and His Four Women is a new play written by local playwright Art Shulman.  He has written many full-length plays that include comedies, dramas, and dramedies.  He says, “I’ve written over 60 plays, including 14 produced full-length plays (some not produced yet) and many one-acts.”   His plays have been produced throughout the United States as well as in Canada.

            

A premier of one of Shulman’s plays, Champ and His Four Women, is being performed at T.U. Theatre in North Hollywood.  It takes place in the living room of Champ’s condominium in the present time.  Champ is also known as Richard (Anthony Backman).

            

Richard lives alone and has since his wife Princess, also known as Susie (Rebecca Westberg) passed away two years ago.  Unfortunately, her demise has left a big hole in Richard’s life and, in his imagination he still sees her and communicates with her.  Obviously, Richard’s whole life is in confusion, and he has difficulty living it normally.  Therefore, he decides to put his condo up for sale.

            

Enter Real Estate Agent Cheryl (Caroline Westheimer) a very attractive young lady who, without meaning to, upsets Richard’s life somewhat because he finds her an attractive friendly lady.  Richard does not seek a woman in his life since his marriage was so perfect with Susie.  However, his wonderful neighbor, Esther (Leah Bass) finds Caroline in his house in an early morning when she delivers him his laundry which she, so helpfully, has been doing for him since the loss of Susie.  Of course, he plays down the evening they spent together and lets Esther know that they each slept in separate bedrooms.  Of course, Esther thinks that it is time for Richard to begin a normal life, and finding a mate can’t be wrong.

            

And wouldn’t you know it?  Another lovely young lady, Annie (Shelby Janes) enters his life and she has an eye for him as well.  And now he is torn more, meanwhile, trying to figure out what is happening to him while he continues his conversations with his imaginative Susie.  In his struggle to return to a happy life, he must deal with four women, Esther who tries to give him advice, Cheryl, his real estate professional, Annie, a cute woman who sometimes reminds him of Susie, and then there is Susie who doesn’t really exist.  Will Richard finally make his decision to come back to life and choose a woman to make him happy once again?

            

Champ and His Four Women has a great deal of reality to it.  It is not unusual when a perfect marriage is upset by the loss of one’s partner and the remaining one finds it difficult to go on living a happy life.  But that is life, and we have to hope that the remaining spouse can keep on living a normal life after a certain amount of time devoted to bereavment.

             

The play is written in a light comedy style with a talented cast that does justice to their characters under the astute direction of Stan Mazin.  It plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through November 24, at Theatre Unlimited (T.U. Studios), 10943 Camarillo St., North Hollywood.  For tickets, go to onstage411.com.