All in the Timing brings original wit, thoughtful satire to the stage

Drama Dock will bring a collection of six one-act plays to life, starting Friday, April 20, and running for two weekends at Open Space.

“All in the Timing,” directed by islander Michael Barker, features humor, satire, and eloquent turns of phrase.

“An all-island cast of performers… relish the short, bare-knuckled immediacy and often black comedy infused in each of these six plays,” said Pamela McMahan, XXXX at Drama Dock.

She added that American playwright David Ives wrote “All in the Timing,” which promises poignant snapshots of characters’ lives.

“In general, one-acts are the dramatic equivalent of a short story and tend to concentrate on a single episode,” McMahan said. “The dialogue and plot must carry the action forward quickly and smoothly.”

Indeed it must, and so it does in Drama Dock’s production, she said. A comedic one-act play that will be presented at “All in the Timing” is sketched out broadly below.

“Sure Thing,” a 10-minute comedy, is reportedly reminiscent of the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray Events occur repeatedly until the characters can get things not just right, but perfect. Set at a cafe table, a woman reading a William Faulkner novel is approached by a man who hopes to sit with her and become better acquainted.

“Whenever he says the wrong thing, a bell rings, and the characters start anew,” McMahan said. “As the scene continues, we discover that the bell ringing isn’t just responding to the man’s wrong answers, but also to the woman’s. Meeting someone new, managing to pique his or her interest, and making a first encounter meaningful is a complicated, fragile business, even with the magic of the time-warping bell.”

Infused with laughs and thought-provoking moments alike, “All in the Timing” is Drama Dock’s first performance at the Open Space’s new black box theatre, The Bruce.

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Shows run April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29: 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are available at Vashon Bookshop, at brownpapertickets.com and at the door. Tickets are $15 with the exception of the two Saturday matinee performances, which offer “pay-as-you-can” tickets.