PORT TOWNSEND — Key City Public Theatre will present a pair of staged readings of Richard Dressler’s play “Rounding Third,” a tumultuous tale of Little League dads, this coming Sunday at the Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St.
The first show will start at 2:30 p.m. with tickets at $15 general or $10 for students via 360-385-KCPT (5278) or www.keycitypublictheatre.org. Remaining seats will be sold at the door.
Then will come the gala benefit performance for the Port Townsend Little League, to start with a reception and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the playhouse; the show will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the whole evening are $25.
To make reservations, phone Jon Vance at 360-301-3417.
“Rounding Third” has Key City regulars Kenn Mann and Scott Nollette portraying Don and Michael, two coaches navigating the rocky terrain of a Little League baseball season.
Don, whose son is the star pitcher, believes in winning at all costs, while Michael — whose son can’t hit, run, catch or throw — thinks the team should just have fun.
“This disparate duo could have become just another vehicle for the often-lampooned conflict” between dads and coaches, Key City artistic director Denise Winter said in a news release.
But, she added, Dresser’s script challenges us with deeper questions: How should we confront the cult of competition in America?
Since we live in this competitive society, do we protect our children as long as possible, or do we prepare them to be tough enough to win?
And what does it mean to be an American man?
Dresser, the guest artist at Key City’s PlayFest last year, is known for works that dive into everyday life in the search for answers.
His characters, Winter noted, embark on their quests for moral guidance amid a big dose of humor.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.