photo by Stan Foxworthy / Pictured are, from left, Kyle Magley as Leslie, Michelle Jones as Kate and Jesse Oneil as Jon

Footlight Players Brings Tax-Time Farce ‘Love, Sex & the I.R.S.’ to the Stage in March

Just in time for tax season, The Footlight Players brings the classic farce “Love, Sex & the I.R.S.” to its historic Charleston theatre from March 3-19. A cross between “I Love Lucy” and “Some Like it Hot!” is set in 1978 New York City. 

Jon Trachtman and Leslie Arthur are out-of-work musicians who room together in the city. To save money, Jon has been filing tax returns listing the pair as married. The day of reckoning arrives when the Internal Revenue Service informs the "couple" it’s coming to investigate. Leslie masquerades as a housewife, aided by Jon's fiancée, Kate. Complicating matters further, Leslie and Kate are having an affair behind Jon's back, Jon's mother drops in unexpectedly to meet her son's fiancée, and Leslie's ex-girlfriend shows up demanding to know why Leslie has changed and won't see her anymore.  

Written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, the Footlight production is directed locally by Joshua Bates. 

“While reading this show I was transported to what feels like a 1970s sitcom,” Bates said. “I couldn’t help but hear the laugh track of a studio audience or see the static of UHF across a cabinet TV.” 

The show is quick on laughs and clever, brought to life by a talented cast willing to pull out all the stops, he said. 

“Farce, by definition, embraces clownish behavior, cartoonish characters with super-sized emotions, improbable timing, and a great deal of physical humor,” Bates said. 

Performances are 8 p.m. March 3, March 4, March 10, March 11, March 16, March 17 and March 18 with a matinee at 3 p.m. March 5, March 12 and March 19. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for military/seniors and $20 for students. Order tickets online at footlightplayers.net or by calling the box office at 843-722-4487. This play contains mild adult themes and may not be suitable for children.