Four comedy scenes located in four major cities are at the heart of ”California Suite,” the next play coming to the stage of Hawkeye Community Theatre Oct. 2-4.

Written by Neil Simon, who has received more Oscar and Tony award nominations than any other writer, ”California Suite” was originally published in 1976 and was made into a screenplay with motion picture release in 1978.

”California Suite” is a comedy in four parts.

In ”Visitor from New York,” Hannah, a magazine writer, is joined by her ex-husband to determine which parent should spend the next six months with their daughter. The banter flies fast and furious, but Hannah’s well-wrought artifice crumbles as her fears take hold.

The ”Visitor from Philadelphia” is a wife who arrives at the suite, catching her husband “en flagrante delicto” with a drunken hooker.

In ”Visitors from London,” Academy Award nominee Diana returns from the ceremony empty-handed to her husband, Sidney, whose homosexuality will be no comfort tonight.

The ”Visitors from Chicago” are two couples ending a disastrous vacation they should not have shared.

Directed by president of the board, Rex Daisy, this is the second to last show of the 2019 theater season.

“I am a relatively recent participant in theater,” said Daisy. “My first ever play to act in was in October 2013 at Hawkeye Community Theatre and I played a night watchman. In 2017, I decided to try my hand at directing and directed a small show called ‘Talley’s Folly.”

After making the decision to direct again, Daisy felt a bit stuck trying to decide the best show to direct and read several scripts in his research. While he started to look at “classic theater shows,” he landed on ”California Suite.”

“It started to make me laugh almost immediately,” he said. “One of the reasons I picked this show was that I personally found it very funny.”

Hawkeye Community Theatre has had somewhat of a decline in actor participation for the October show, which can make casting tricky. This show with four acts could be done with doubling some of the cast members to fill all of the character roles, but Daisy was able to fill almost all of the roles without doing so, much to his surprise.

“Everyone that has joined the show has been great and I hope to work with all of them again in the future,” said Daisy, “Whether it be directing or acting on stage with them.”

As the show’s director and president of the board, Daisy wants to thank everyone who supports local community theater by acting, directing, or being an audience member.

“We need all three of these to keep our theater community alive and well,” he said.

”California Suite” will be performed at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 – 4 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 5. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance by visiting the website, at www.hawkeyetheatre.com, or by purchasing tickets at the door.

Cast of California Suite:

Jess Barkhaus as Hannah Warren

Jordan Martin as William Warren

Jeff Boyd as Marvin Michaels

Jess Barkhaus as Bunny

Karie Karr as Millie Michaels

Mike Terwilliger as Sidney Nichols

Stella Buie as Diana Nichols

Mike Blair as Mort Hollender

Alyssa Sparks as Beth Hollender

Jordan Martin as Stu Franklyn

Amber Rouse as Gert Franklyn