The Alden Theater at the McLean Community Center welcomes back the McLean Drama Company this weekend, for its annual production.

This year’s play, opening on June 12, is an original piece by longtime journalist Rachael Bail, a former McLean resident.

"Immoral Combat" is a satire on journalists, newsrooms and the entire news business.

The play’s main characters are Larry and Elizabeth. Larry, the head-reporter who is having an in-office affair, and Elizabeth, the assistant head-reporter who is trying to calm the situation, all while trying to get out the news.

"The premise of the play is about what happens in a newsroom," Bail said. "The characters are trying to get the news out and people’s political ideas and backgrounds come around and interfere with, or improve, the news."



BAIL is the founder and president of the McLean Drama Company. She has worked as a journalist all over the world, including such adventures as writing a column while living in Rome.

"I think it’s important for people to know that they should look at the news very carefully and critically, and then they will be able to make their own judgments about what is actually happening," Bail said.

"Immoral Combat" is directed by Emmy-Award winner Ron Sarro. Sarro was also a longtime journalist before becoming a professional director.

"I know the details that are necessary to make a newsroom look like a newsroom and to make the characters real," Sarro said. "I can bring news experience. There are some things in the play that actually happened to me."

Sarro, as well as most journalists, knows just how big of role the printer and the cleaning lady can play in a newsroom, and it is experience like that.

"Because of Ron’s experience he knows exactly how to direct this play, for exactly what it is," said actor Jay Branscomb of McLean. "He’s a journalist. He’s directed. He’s an actor himself. He knows comedy. It’s perfect."

The director and the cast of 11 have only had one month to put the play on stage. They have been working hard to be ready in time.

"Rachael has been very, very generous with me in allowing me as the director to interpret her play and I want to thank her for that," Sarro said.

In Bail’s original version, the play has 22 set changes, but Sarro has made it so there are no set changes.

"It’s a great group, and the comedy is fun, it’s been fun to see it come together," said actor Patrick Hogan of McLean. "It’s been nice working for Rachael, because she produced the play, but she is flexible with it and has collaborated with the director and is open to suggestions, and is accessible. The whole group is working well."



LAST YEAR, Hogan took part in the McLean Drama Company’s 10-minute play contest, but this is his first year in the full production, and he has two roles.

"That’s what this place is about, a community theater that allows for someone like me to get involved in a production that is written by someone who knows what they’re talking about, and has great life experiences," Hogan said. "They can call in other folks who are not just interested in making money, they are interested in community theater that would involve beginning actors, and that brings in a professionalism that attracts experienced actors. It’s great. It’s a perfect thing for McLean."

Branscomb said that because it is a brand-new piece, they have nothing to compare it to, so the actors have played around with how to play their characters.

"We’re doing a delicate balance between playing it with broad situation comedy with stereotypes, but trying to be true to character and trying to be realistic," Branscomb said. "We take it to the top, but don’t go over the top."

One member of the group is Nina Chadab, a student at the Langley School ("Little Langley"), who is the student director of the play.

"The play is really funny. It’s sort of adult humor, so I don’t always get the jokes, but it’s really funny and I really like it," Chadab said.

This is Chadab’s second year as the student director. She helps the actors with their lines and takes stage notes.

The McLean Drama Company is a non-profit organization with a mission of inspiring and presenting new plays and dramatic writings by area playwrights.

To help fulfill this mission, the company conducted a 10-minute play contest for adults. The winner, "Seeds" by Shayne Gardner, will be performed after the last performance of "Immoral Combat" on Sunday.