An Empty Plat In The Café Du Grand Boeuf by Michael Hollinger
Friday, November 21, 2008 at Fri and Sat at 730pm and Sun at 2pm
Waterville Opera House Studio Theater, 93 Main St, Waterville
Kennebec & Moose River Valleys
Aqua City Actors Theatre (ACAT) of Waterville opens its production of An Empty Plat In The Café Du Grand Boeuf on the weekend of Friday November 21st at 730 PM. This "comic tragedy in seven courses" written by Michael Hollinger celebrates the joys of cooking, sex, bullfighting and the collected works of Ernest Hemingway. No menu necessary at the world's greatest restaurant, the Café du Grand Boeuf in Paris. Why? "Because we have everything," headwaiter Claude admonishes waiter-in-training Antoine. On this hot July night in 1961, the two join waitress Mimi and chef Gaston in awaiting the imminent arrival of Victor, the Café's owner and sole patron. But when "Monsieur" returns from the bullfights in Madrid, disheveled and morose, his wish is simple: to die of starvation at his own table. The frantic staff, whose very lives depend on Victor's appetite, try all means to change his mind, but to no avail. Finally, they make a last-ditch plea: Out of respect for their life's work, will he let them prepare one final meal–provided they leave it in the kitchen? Instead they will describe it, course by course, over a series of empty platters. Victor reluctantly consents, and the "feast of adjectives and adverbs" begins.
ACAT's production of An Empty Plat In The Café Du Grand Boeuf is directed by Don Chimera and Lee Kerr and features an ensemble cast consisting of local thespians: Victor played by Joe Klapatch, Claude-Dan Goodheart, Gaston-Tom Yori, Mimi-Julie Barrett, Louise-Doree Austin and Antoine-James Paine.
Show dates are November 21-22 and 28-29 at 7:30 pm and 23 & 30 at 2 pm in the Waterville Opera House's Studio Theater located at The Center, First Floor, 93 Main Street in Waterville. Tickets are $12 and $10 for seniors and students. To make reservations, or for other information, contact the Box Office at (207) 873-7000. Seating in the Studio Theater is on a first-come, first-served basis (general seating) and accommodates only 60 persons, so please make reservations early. For Quality Theater at affordable prices visit ACAT on the web at www.acattheatre.org.
Host: Aqua City Actors Theatre (ACAT) 
Contact: Daniel Goodheart (207 430-5250)
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