Love Struck passionately celebrates the Three Roses Players

Nurturing new works for the theater is the goal of the Three Roses Players. That is something the acclaimed North Hollywood-based theater company does very well. And once again they have struck newly minted golden prose with their presentation of Love Struck by award-winning playwright Dale Griffiths Stamos.

It was staged as an evening of eight one act plays, all embracing aspects of love by Stamos, who has received past accolades for her Thicker Than Water collection of one-act plays with a family theme.

Produced by Three Roses Players and Venice Sky Productions, with enormous help from associate producer Adryan Russ, the show was presented at the historic Beverly Hills Playhouse. Seven of the Love Struck stories were directed by Maggie Grant, who also performed in two of them. And one relationship story had Barbara Bain at the helm.

Barbara Bain, best known for her Emmy-winning iconic role on the original Mission: Impossible TV series, starred in two of the plays, joining a stellar ensemble that brought the collection of stories to life. Some were rib-tickling comedies that reflected amorous situations which everyone has experienced. And there were much more serious stories that presented thought-provoking themes.

There were two monologs, “Tracy’s Sin” and “Jeremy’s Fear,” which were heart wrenching pieces that worked thanks to the actors who brought passion to the words. It was a showcase for Tara Windley as Tracy, and Eric Charles Jorgenson as Jeremy.

“Dirty Little Secret,” about a therapist’s office encounter with domestic abuse, featured an explosive Matthew Brenher and the multi-talented Maggie Grant.

“Identity” had a son dealing with his mother’s dementia, and learning about a secret from her past. Bain played the mother, with Peter Van Norden as her husband, and Dave Roberts as her son.

On a lighter note, the “Matchmade” story had Bain playing a modern day matchmaker for the senior crowd. Her emotions go wild after the appearance a long lost love (Nick Ullett), who wants to rekindle feelings from long ago. It’s played for laughs but with the sensitivity that showcases the perfect marriage of performers and storytelling.

The entire cast deserves praise for acting from their hearts and making the show throb with passion. A fine example of that was the “Amanda Split” story. It was wonderfully played with two women (Molly Leland and Julianna Robinson) portraying the same person: one a proper lady, and the other wanting to give in to her sexual desires with hunky Ryan Cross. Guess who wins?

For announcements of upcoming shows from the Three Roses Players, “where the arts come alive,” visit www.3rosesp.com.