Rogue Theater Brings “Riverside Drive” to Stage

Woody Allen’s brand of quirky, intellectual, biting humor is being brought to the stage in Rogue Theater’s production of Riverside Drive. Bestselling playwright James Swain (played by Marcel Bruyere) finds himself in a secluded setting alongside The Hudson River in New Jersey. Swain is experiencing writer’s block; frustrated by the success of his first novel and the pressure of having to produce another bestseller as well as an unhappy home life and a steamy affair gone bad.

Swain meets homeless, psychotic Fredrick Savage (played by Dan Sallinen) who accuses Swain of stealing his idea for the novel and demands the writer includes him in the credits and royalties. Savage believes he is caught up in a conspiratorial network dedicated to his undoing.

The ensuing dialogue between the two is nothing less than an intellectually satirical ballet as only Woody Allen could write it. The story is further complicated when Swain’s lover, Barbara (played by Keri Grimsley), shows up with an unsavory request of blackmail to buy her silence from telling Swain’s wife about their affair.

Shows will be performed in both Sturgeon Bay and Ephraim: June 5 – 7 at Benny D’z, 23 West Oak Street, Sturgeon Bay; and June 12 – 14 at the Ephraim Village Hall, 9996 Highway 42, Ephraim. Thursday through Saturday shows will be performed at 7:30 pm. Sunday shows will be performed at 2 pm. For reservations contact Rogue Theater at 920.818.0816.