Life and love in the Plaza Suite

Malcolm Wardle and Patricia Shacklock perform in act three of 'Plaza Suite'

Neil Simon's delightfully witty comedy 'Plaza Suite' is the next production for The Ratae Co-operative Players.

The Leicester theatre group, who are approaching their 60th year, will perform at Wheatsheaf Theatre in the city.

'Plaza Suite' is made up of three short plays set in the same New York hotel room, with unconnected characters.

The production runs from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 October 2009, with shows starting at 19:30.

The first mini-play 'Visitor From Mamaroneck' follows a New York business man and his wife, who is planning to celebrate their wedding anniversary but instead they end up arguing about a possible infidelity.

Actor Brian Heathcote says, "There's quite a lot of humour in it, but it's also quite poignant in that he doesn't want to admit it's a midlife crisis basically he's having."

This is followed by the shortest piece 'Visitor from Hollywood', in which a film producer books into the room only to be unexpectedly greeted by an old female friend, who seems to want more from their relationship than she's letting on.

The final play 'Visitor from Forest Hills' is the most famous of the three.

"He doesn't want to admit it's a midlife crisis basically he's having."

A couple have hired out the hotel suite for their daughter Mimsey's wedding, but she has locked herself in the bathroom and refuses to get out.

Her parents do all they can to try and persuade her in comic fashion, whilst arguing about who is at fault for the drama.

The end is too good to spoil.

'Plaza Suite' was adapted for film in 1971, and starred Walter Matthau in all three main male parts.

For ticket prices and more information visit the Ratae Players website