Doug Bechtel and the Actors Theatre of Orcas Island have cooked up another summer treat for us with ‘Getting Along Famously’, Michael Jacobs’ nutty play about a successful author unhappy with his success.

Bryan Grantham does a fine job as Harry Leeby, the author, while Terri Vinson, a recent Orcas High School graduate, impresses all with a smooth, confident performance as Lori, Harry’s daughter. I was quite taken with Vinson’s quiet grace and ease on stage, and hope we see her in future productions. Those fortunate enough to have experienced a play with Suzanne Gropper in it will need no urging to see her in this production – she’s simply fantastic in her role as Sandy Castle, the author’s Agent. (I doubt anyone can ‘see’ Gropper in a play – it’s too much of an experience!)

I love the artful staging of this play, too: when Gropper speaks her first lines, nearstage under a spotlight, the scene, setting, and relationships are immediately understood.

I need a new paragraph for David Schermerhorn, who played the famous actor who had built a career as the spy in films made of Harry’s wildly popular novels. Wow. Simply, Wow. This guy could sell stage presence – he has it in bulk. Tons of it. He was terrific in his role, with a voice to match his stature.

Bill and Cele Westlake, Ron Herman, and many others acted, built, operated lights and sound, and otherwise assisted with this very fine production of a really funny and lighthearted play. Doug Bechtel continues to build his legacy of artistic and creative plays, with great play selection and spectacular casting from a talent pool that is surprisingly deep.

See the play ‘Getting Along Famously’ at the Grange at 7:30 p.m. July 31, and August 6,7,8.