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.