SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 | 97
Bernard Dunlap, the uptight
hotel general manager. Dunlap
tries to maintain control while
experiencing fits of anxiety and
panic, and Keith strikes that
balance perfectly,
” says Targan,
who also directed Firstenberg
in Spamalot and Leading
Ladies.
Targan promises audienc-
es will enjoy Suite Surrender
because it is a screwball come-
dy that taps into the nostalgia
of the WWII era.
“It is a classic farce with high
stakes, quirky characters and
even an adorable dog,
” says
Targan, a Bloomfield Hills res-
ident.
Firstenberg’s engineer-
ing jobs have taken him to
Minnesota, Traverse City and,
now, Plymouth where he has
worked since 2012. In each city,
Firstenberg found a communi-
ty theater to join. It was at the
Traverse City Opera House, at
a ballroom dance social, where
Firstenberg would meet his
future wife, Jayne. They were
married in 2010 at the Opera
House and, six months later,
they were featured together in
Fiddler on the Roof at the Old
Town Playhouse in Traverse
City. Keith played Motel the
tailor, and Jayne played Tevye’s
daughter, Tzeitel.
“It was wonderful. We got
married on stage every night,
”
says Firstenberg, who was also
in Dracula and Assassins with
Jayne at Farmington Players.
These days, the couple alter-
nates performing in shows
while their daughter, Amelia,
is still young. Firstenberg says
he’s having a blast in Suite
Surrender.
“I absolutely love farce,
” he
adds, comparing the antics to
Lend Me a Tenor, Noises Off and
Rumors. “It checks all the boxes
of comedy — from doors slam-
ming to mistaken consequenc-
es. It’s a very physical show,
there’s a lot of frantic running
around. People will love it.
”
Mei-Lin Wong, Hilary Borlack, Keith Firstenberg, Rose Randall Warner,
Donna Pelon, Kyle Phillips (with “Mr. Boodles”) and Carol Shirley-Brown
PHOTO BY PAUL MANOIAN
Details
Suite Surrender, sponsored by Weinstein Jewelers,
will be performed without an intermission. Run time
is approximately 90 minutes. Performances are Sept.
23-25, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and Oct. 6-8. Reserved tickets,
$20-$22, are available at www.farmingtonplayers.org, by
emailing boxoffice@farmingtonplayers.org or by calling
(248) 553-2955. The Farmington Players Barn Theater is
located at 32332 W. 12 Mile Road. It’s the big white barn
on the north side of 12 Mile between Orchard Lake and
Farmington roads.