by April Helms

Special Products Editor

There was much to enjoy in the sweet, comic "Enchanted April," which officially opened April 18 at Weathervane Playhouse.

First, the set in Act II, by staff scenic designer Alan Scott Ferrall of Cuyahoga Falls, with the flower arrangements created by master gardener Judy Willemsen. When the curtain rose for Act II on April 18, the audience applauded for several minutes after just seeing the set, which recreates part of a castle and gardens in Mezzago, Italy in 1922.

"We closed '[The Importance of Being] Earnest' 12 days ago," said Ferrall after the April 18 show. "That [scenery] went up 10 days ago. Judy just went to town. I can't sing the praises of my volunteer staff enough."

The play, directed by Bob Belfance, is pretty straightforward. Lotty Wilton, a sweet free spirit who is tired of her humdrum life and the dreary weather in London, becomes excited when she sees and advertisement on an Italian castle for rent for the month of April. She lassos her church peer, the more conservative Rose Arnott, into her plan to rent the castle. Together they find two more women -- the demanding Mrs. Graves and the socialite Lady Caroline -- to share the costs. There are two potential setbacks: One, the four women are very, very different. Can they get along together for one whole month? Also -- how will Lotty's and Rose's husbands (played by Henry Bishop and Aaron J. Veal) react to their wives going to Italy without them?

The production also features Timothy M. Kelley as Antony Wilding, the charming landlord and host of the castle, and Harriet DeVeto as Costanza, the Italian maid who doesn't speak English, but understands and communicates her thoughts on the guests very clearly all the same.

"Enchanted April" seemed to be a hit with the audience, who laughed throughout, especially during the hilarious outcome of the bath scene.

"I thought it was fantastic," said Cheryl Standler of Akron.

"It was good," agreed Cheryl's husband Gil. "It captured your attention throughout."

Ticket and show information

Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

For tickets, call the Weathervane Box Office at 330-836-2626, Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Information and tickets also can be found online at www.weathervaneplayhouse.com.

Preview ticket prices are $14. Regular ticket prices are $20, $18 for seniors and college students (Thursdays and Sundays only) and $16 for children (ages 17 or younger).

Half-price student-rush tickets are available beginning one half hour before each performance (pending availability); students should present a valid college I.D. to claim this discount.

Weathervane is at 1301 Weathervane Lane in Akron.

Next on stage

Weathervane Playhouse will next stage "And the Winner Is" May 14 through 31 in its Dietz Theatre.

The musical "Ragtime" will finish Weathervane's 2007-08 season. "Ragtime" will run June 4 through 29.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153