The set of the latest play staged at the Chesapeake Arts Center might look vaguely familiar to regulars of the elegant restaurant and bar in Baltimore's historic Belvedere Hotel.
Playwright Mark Scharf set his 15th play produced by the Baltimore Playwrights Festival, Last Night at the Owl Bar, a haunt he's long admired.
Of the Owl Bar location, Scharf quoted his central character Jonathan Caldwell: "I like it here because it's nicer than most places. I love the exposed brick and the polished wood. It feels substantial."
The play, which uses audience participation with actors playing multiple characters and doing stand-up comedy, begins and ends in the Owl Bar.
Jonathan, a theater director, regularly meets his friend, Rebecca, a recently widowed actress of a certain age, there for dinner. They talk about Rebecca's loss of her soul mate and Jonathan's longing to find his own.
Jonathan's wife has asked for a separation, so he now lives with his friend, Max, who is struggling with his own break up.
Relationships evolve and grow more complicated as each member of the trio pursues happiness.
Directing arts center's production is Randy Dalmas who for more than 20 years has worked in the Baltimore area - most recently directing Larry Shue's The Nerd at Spotlighters Theater. He said the bar creates a beautiful location for a show, and the set will borrow heavily from elements of the building.
"Mostly the Owl Bar creates a kind of safe area for the characters to speak freely and openly," he said. Scharf said the center's Studio Theatre "feels like home" for his 40th play.
"CAC's Studio Theatre puts almost every off-off Broadway space in NYC. I've been in to shame," he said. "It's a wonderful intimate space that was designed to be a theater. I couldn't be happier with the design and the equipment - the feel of the place which is also due to CAC personnel who know what they're doing and are devoted to creating quality theater."
Scharf who served as chairman of Baltimore Playwrights Festival from 2003 to last year, praised it as unique because: "It offers playwrights something rare and so valuable - a full production following a good rehearsal period during which one can work on one's script.
There is nothing more important than working to get a play on its feet in front of an audience. This is different from readings and workshops - the experience cannot be simulated. For me it is gold. I get to work with all the different craftspeople of the theater - actors, director, designers and then see how the play works in front of an audience which is the point of writing a play. My work is so much better for the experience."
His enthusiasm and dedication should translate to a rewarding experience for those who sign up for the course in writing plays that he'll teach at the arts center this fall.
Chesapeake Arts Center caution that "Last Night at the Owl Bar" has mature content. It opens Aug. 3 for three weekends running through Aug. 19. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 for center members and $15 for nonmembers. Ticket orders: 410-636-6597.