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There's a logical reason, according to director Wayne Dunn, why the play "Enchanted April" is so titled.

"It really is enchanting," he said. "We saw it on Broadway in 2005 and thought it had a great feel, great characters, and would be a perfect fit for the Lebanon Theatre Company.

The story begins in post-WWI London.

"They've lost a million soldiers and everyone is living in the pall of this loss," he said. "Marriages have suffered even if the husbands weren't killed."

Two women whose marriages have lost their focus — Lotty (Cassandra Engber) and Rose (Cherie Cooper-Darragh) — meet at their Ladies' Club and discover that they both have read the same advertisement about a villa for rent in Italy for the month of April.

"They can't really afford it, but they are compelled to go," Dunn said.

After much ado, the two decide to rent the castle with its wisteria, and they find two other women, Mrs. Graves (Paula Whitaker) and Lady Bramble (Holly Stagnaro), to share the rent. Adding to the excitement in Italy are Lotty's and Rose's husbands Mellersh (Ernie Rowland) and Frederick (Jay Fultz), the villa owner Mr. Wilding (Terry Gosdin), and the maid Costanza (Georgia Dunn).

Although there were two movie versions in 1935 and 1992, the play uses as its source the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, and has "a livelier pace" and plays up the humor slightly more, Dunn said.

Dunn also said that the production designers went over and above their duty in transforming the stage from the dreary, rainy London of Act I to the colorful and sunny Italian Riviera of Act II.

CONTACT this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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