Falling in love is harder ‘The Second Time Around’

The Marco Players’ production of “The Second Time Around” written by Henry Denker and directed by Brett Marston, explores the emotions and reactions from adult children when the death of a parent leaves a surviving parent who gets bitten by the love bug.

The parents are Samuel Jones (Carl Back), a widower, and widow Laura Curtis (Carole Musgrave) who meet in a radiologist’s office and begin spending time with one another since they share many of the same ailments and interests. The trouble begins when they meet their adult children, Cynthia Morse (Diana Back) and Mike Curtis (Tyler Miller) at Samuel’s apartment to announce their future plans.

The play raises a number of issues regarding senior romance. Is it wrong for widows/widowers to love again? Can they remain faithful to the memory of their spouses? Can adult children accept the notion that their parents are people with companion needs and desires?  With the "children" upset at their parents' willingness to "shack up,” the play also stirs up memories of the societal norms and pressures many of us felt in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

Seniors will enjoy this play in which the "old folks," often considered the cranky members of society, are the only sane, well-adjusted characters in the show. Perhaps younger adults should take this play as a warning of what their own parents are capable of!

If you go

What: “The Second Time Around”

When: Jan. 4-22

Where: The Marco Players Theater, Marco Town Center Mall, 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island

Details: Shows are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Attend the first week of the show and be entered to win a dinner cruise for two on The Marco Island Princess.

Information: Tickets are on sale at TheMarcoPlayers.com or by calling the box office at 239-642-7270.