Intended for mature audiences.

Director’s Note

Romantic Fools is not your normal Valley Players fare. Even the author, Rich Orloff, describes the play as a comic vaudeville. The characters are split 50/50 male and female and it is written for a much younger group of actors.

So why are we doing this play? Aside from the practical (simple sets, minimal lighting), this play does, indeed, speak directly to our mission.

Firstly, age: why is it assumed that only the young are romantic? That only the young might be searching for that special someone? That only the young struggle with dating issues when doing so? We all know that isn’t the case, so we see no reason why an older group of actors can’t play these scenes with an equal (if not greater) depth and truthfulness to reality – well, with as much depth and reality as a comic vaudeville has, anyway.

The gender issue: Milton Berle played a woman for laughs. Flip Wilson played a woman for laughs. Tyler Perry played a woman for laughs. And they certainly are not the only men to have done so. Isn’t it about time some women played men for laughs? ‘Nuff said.

The comic vaudeville: Sometimes, we just want to laugh. Period. The last two years have been, at the very least, stressful for us all. We are having a blast producing this show and we want to share that fun with everyone! So we ask you to sit back, relax, suspend your disbelief and enjoy these Romantic Fools.

—June Alane Reif

Valley Players and the Town of Yountville present Romantic Fools by Rich Orloff

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

Act I

Introduction with Richard Pallaziol & Patte Quinn
Find Me a Primitive Man with Georgia Taylor & Robert Silva
Nightmare With A Sexy Skirt with Christina Julian & Debbie Baumann
One Man’s Secret Desire with Krisi Pilkington & Barbara Nemko
At the Orgy with Daryl Roberts & Randi Storm
The Stepford Guy with Barbara Nemko & Robert Silva
Nice Tie with Bridget Folan & Jimmy Adams

~ 15 minute Intermission ~

Act II

Power Is the Greatest Aphrodisiac of Them All with Christina Julian & Rhonda Bowen
Vegetarians in Lust with Rhonda Bowen & Krisi Pilkington
Spaghetti Overture with Jimmy Adams & Debbie Baumann
The Wedding Planner with Bridget Folan & Richard Pallaziol
Bride and Gloom with Georgia Taylor & Randi Storm

About the Author

Rich Orloff is one of the most popular unknown playwrights in the country. His plays have received thousands of productions, numerous awards, and oodles of laughter. From his acclaimed comedic explorations of such topics as disability (FUNNY AS A CRUTCH) and an unwanted pregnancy (ENGAGEMENT RULES) to documentary-style plays such as VIETNAM 101: THE WAR ON CAMPUS and CHATTING WITH THE TEA PARTY, Rich’s plays range widely in style and subject matter, but they all combine irreverence and compassion.

Rich’s full-length plays have had over 300 productions and have been presented across the country at such theaters as Arizona Theatre Company, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Dayton Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, New Jersey Rep, Next Act Theatre (Milwaukee), Phoenix Stage Company (Connecticut), Phoenix Theatre Company (Indianapolis), Phoenix Theatre Company (in Phoenix!), and also in Canada, England, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Author of over a dozen one-acts and 80 short plays, Rich’s short works have had over 2000 productions on six of the seven continents… and a staged reading in Antarctica!

Rich’s short comedies have been published seven times in the annual Best American Short Plays series and four times in the annual Best Ten-Minute Plays anthology. They’ve also been included in the bilingual collection An Anthology of Contemporary American Plays (published in China), in The Bedford Guide to Literature, and in anthologies published by Random House and Western Michigan University Press. Playscripts has published eight volumes of his plays. (For details, visit Playscripts.com.)

Over the last few years, Rich’s theatrical writing has expanded to include IT’S A BEAUTIFUL WOUND, an autobiographical monologue he performed around the USA from 2018 to 2020, and BLESSINGS FROM THE PANDEMIC, a performance piece, which has been performed over Zoom by both theaters and schools. Working with composer Beth Ratay, he’s adapted two of his short comedies into short operas.

Before becoming a playwright, Rich wrote for newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, industrial films and educational videos. While in Kosovo in 2000, Rich wrote the children’s play SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS for Doctors of the World.

Born and raised in Chicago, and a graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio, Rich currently lives in New York City. He likes to get out of town frequently to remind himself what the rest of the world is like.

Meet The Cast

Jimmy and Debbie in rehearsal for *Spaghetti Overture*.

Jimmy Adams (MAN, Nice Tie / MAN, Spaghetti Overture) has been acting for more than 10 years. He’s an Arty Award recipient for Waiting For Godot. He is no stranger to multiple roles, including Stage Manager, Dialect Coach and Set Design.

Debbie Gargalikis Baumann (MAN, Nightmare With a Sexy Skirt / WOMAN, Spagheti Overture) has been enjoying the theatre on and off stage as a director and actor for many years. She has been asked, “Do you get tired of the theatre?”. Quick answer: “No, but they may get tired of me!!!” She has directed many plays over the past few years, her favorites are One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, The Tin Woman, Three Viewings and Steel Magnolias. As an actor she feels she is still working hard on her craft and has had many challenges but has the great opportunity to work with some wonderful directors to help. Good luck to Valley Players now and in the future. Thanks again to my always supportive family!

Rhonda and Christina in rehearsal for *Power is the Greatest Aphrodisiac of Them All*.

Rhonda Bowen (WOMAN, Power Is the Greatest Aphrodisiac of Them All / MAN, Vegetarians in Lust) is delighted to be part of Romantic Fools’ great cast and is enjoying all the fun! While also acting in other Bay Area productions, Rhonda has been active with Valley Players since 2018, appearing on stage in The Old Friends, Farce of Habit, Hardball, and most recently in Ladies’ Briefs. She has also been a supportive part of V.P’s production team, contributing time and energy to sets, props, and backstage crew as needed.

Bridget and Jimmy in rehearsal for *Nice Tie*.

Bridget Folan (WOMAN, Nice Tie / WOMAN, The Wedding Planner) has appeared in Noises Off, and Equus at the Napa Valley college, 8×10 Festival, The Secret Garden, and In Love with the 8×10 with Lucky Penny, The Tin Woman, and Ladies’ Briefs with Valley Players!

Christina Julian (WOMAN, Nightmare With a Sexy Skirt / MAN, Power is the Greatest Aphrodisiac of Them All) Never content to being pigeonholed into any one art form, Christina Julian, has committed to many as an author, actor, and playwright. A longtime dream came to life with the most recent Valley Players production, Ladies Briefs, when she wrote and directed her first play, Growing Old WithOUT Grace. She has performed up and down the valley in roles, including, God of Carnage, Sylvia, Black Tie, the Dining Room, Farce of Habit and Women in Jeopardy. Her written words have appeared in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Bohemian, North Bay Biz magazine, and within the pages of her debut novel, The Dating Bender. Learn more at christinajulian.com.

Bobby and Barb in rehearsal for *The Stepford Guy.*

Barbara Nemko (WOMAN, One Man’s Secret Desire / WOMAN, The Stepford Guy) day job is Napa County Superintendent of Schools, a position she has held for almost 25 years. One of her favorite outside activities is Community Theater, and she is delighted to be working again with the Valley Players, in Romantic Fools. Previously, with Valley Players, she played Dr. Goldsmith in the world premiere of Ordinary Day and was in 2 sketches of Ladies Briefs. Barbara was a member of the Dreamweavers Theater Company, where she served on the board and performed in numerous productions, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, Blithe Spirit, Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo, and Deathtrap. She has also performed with Lucky Penny in Funny Girl, and in several productions at Napa Valley College.

Richard Pallaziol (Host / MAN, Introduction / MAN, The Wedding Planner) has performed for the Marin, Napa, and Grove Shakespeare companies. For Valley Players he was in Ladies’ Briefs, The Lover, Hardball, and Women in Jeopardy.

Krisi and Barb in *One Man’s Secret Desire.*

Krisi Pilkington (MAN, One Man’s Secret Desire / WOMAN, Vegetarians in Lust) has enjoyed working in theater both on and off stage for many years. She’s back on stage after a little hiatus and is thrilled to be here performing with this wonderful group of people called Valley players. Enjoy the show!

Patte Quinn (Hostess / WOMAN, Introduction) has always enjoyed the “magical moments” of performing. Laughter is good for the heart and soul. She hopes you will be strong in both areas after you watch Romantic Fools. She thanks you for supporting Valley Players. So sit back, relax and let the laughter begin.

Daryl and Randi in rehearsal for *At the Orgy*.

Daryl Roberts (MAN, At the Orgy) acted with Dreamweavers Theatre from 1992-2013. His favorite shows included: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Lend Me a Tenor; Not Now Darling; Love, Sex & the IRS; and No Sex, Please, We’re British. This will be his first production with Valley Players and his first since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He hopes his participation acts as an inspiration for all who have contracted PD.

Robert Silva‘s (MAN, Find ME a Primitive Man / MAN, The Stepford Guy) passion for the arts began at an early age. He discovered his love for acting with Napa Children’s Theater at the age of 15. Throughout his high school career, he performed in marching and concert band, choir, and musical theater. Since then he has performed with Dreamweaver’s Theater, Lucky Penny Productions, and the Napa Valley Conservatory Theater both on stage as well as behind the scenes. His most recent performance was in Valley Player’s 2019 production of Farce of Habit. He is excited to be working with many familiar faces as well as some new ones.

Georgia and Randi in rehearsal for *Bride and Gloom.*

Randi Storm (WOMAN, At the Orgy / MAN, Bride and Gloom) has been in many shows produced by Valley Players and has loved every minute. She recently performed in Ladies’ Briefs with many of the theater friends she has developed over the years. She thanks you for coming and hopes you enjoy the show.

Georgia Taylor (WOMAN, Find Me a Primitive Man / WOMAN, Bride and Gloom) grew up in rural Suffolk, England in the bucolic hamlet of Little Bealings. From a young age, Georgia actively participated in local theater and, at the age of ten, made her debut on the stage at the Wolsey Theater, Ipswich in the production of The Railway Children. While attending high school, Georgia held leading roles in the musicals Sweet Charity, Annie and Grease. In her free time, Georgia was first flute chair in the Suffolk Youth Orchestra and first soprano in the Suffolk Youth Choir, touring with both companies to Germany, the Czech Republic, Paris and Ireland. In 2000, Georgia was cast as Juliet in the Britten Pears operetta, The Little Sweep. Georgia graduated from the University of Warwick with a B.A. (Honors) in French and Italian in 2009 and, in 2010 transferred from Champagne, France to Napa with LVMH. Romantic Fools will be Georgia’s stage debut in America following an almost twenty-year hiatus from the stage.

Meet The Crew

June Alane Reif (Director) is pleased to be able to bring you this delightful comic romp. June is one of the founders of Valley Players and has particpated in one way or another in all of their productions.

Richard Pallaziol (Assistant Director) studied theatre at CSU Long Beach and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. As actor, director, dancer, and fight choreographer he has worked in over 400 shows from San Diego to Michigan.

Lu Kenmonth, Valley Players, Napa Valley, California

Lu Kenmonth (Technical Director/Light & Sound Technician) is a 2nd grade teacher at an arts integration school in Napa. As a teacher, Lu has produced and directed 7 children’s musical theater productions including Disney’s Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Annie and Seussical.

Keith Baldanza (Set Builder) first got his hands dirty building set pieces for the San Jose Repertory Theater oh-so-many moons ago. He was a driving force in the early days of the Dreamweavers Troupe and is proud to have contributed to nearly every Valley Players production since early 2018.

Rhonda Bowen (Set Dresser/Specialty Props) has had the privilege of designing many of the sets for Valley Players’ productions. Rhonda studied Theatre Arts at Santa Rosa Junior College, completing her B.A in Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley.

Paul Marciniak (Set Builder) became involved with Valley Players after their first performance. He has been having a fun time building sets and working behind the scenes as a stage member ever since. He is delighted to work with such a great and talented group. Please come join us: you won’t be disappointed!

Thank You!

Keith Baldanza for our rehearsal space.
Skipper Skeoch and Freya Marcelius for the meat.
Lauren Haugen for volunteer coordination.
Front of house volunteers: Kelly Berryman, Debbie Cates, Karen Chadbourne, Carlene Coury, Bonnie Gamble, Mark Haugen, Jay Jacobson, Jim Ladwig, Barbara McFadden, Diana Nieto, Karen Olson, Pamela Perkins, Gordon Smith, Suzy Solomon, Debbie Stack, Paige Whitney-White, and Pam Zeidell.

For the use of the Yountville Community Center and marketing assistance. Visit www.yountvilleevents.com.

For lighting equipment and design. Visit www.dionysuscreative.com.