Contact: Scott Palmer
scott@bagnbaggage.org

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

November 1, 2016

 

LOVE CONQUERS ALL AT THE PARFUMERIE THIS CHRISTMAS

Charming, Romantic Comedy Parfumerie To Delight Audiences This Holiday Season In Oregon Premiere

 

Hillsboro, OR- The Hungarian play that inspired a trio of iconic films and a massive Broadway smash comes to Hillsboro for an Oregon premiere this holiday season. Bag&Baggage Productions, Hillsboro’s resident professional theatre, presents Parfumerie, adapted by EP Dowdall from the Hungarian play Illatzzertar by Miklos Laszlo, from November 25^th – December 23^rd at The Venetian Theatre.

Set during Christmastime, 1937 in Budapest Hungary, the play centers around two bickering employees at an upscale boutique, who have been building an anonymous romantic relationship through letters to one another for two years.  This popular comedy has been a favorite in Europe, but is rarely seen in the United States, and the Bag&Baggage production is the first in Oregon.  Written by Hungarian émigré Miklos Laszlo, Parfumerie’s charming plot has been adapted to film several times, including The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and You’ve Got Mail, and as the Broadway musical She Loves Me.

“Parfumerie is a bit of a change for us,” said Founding Artistic Director Scott Palmer. “For the past three years, we have been presenting over-the-top, adult-themed holiday farces but this year our holiday show is sweet, romantic, and filled with holiday heart. Maybe most surprising? It’s appropriate for the whole family.”

 

Although not a “brand name” holiday standard, Parfumerie has been growing in popularity throughout the country as an alternative to the usual list of familiar Christmas titles. “The first performance of the show in Beverly Hills was in 2013, and starred acting luminaries like Richard Schiff (Tony Ziegler from The West Wing) and Deborah Ann Woll (star of the True Blood and Daredevil television shows). It very quickly developed a reputation as an instant holiday classic, and has been produced throughout North America ever since,” said Palmer.

 

The play interweaves two very different plots; first, the owner of the Parfumerie suspects that his wife may be having an affair with one of his employees while, second, two of the staff of the shop have been bickering and fighting for years, unknowing that they have also been writing love letters to each other the entire time. Both plots come to their conclusion in the Budapest snow on Christmas Eve.

 

“There is a kind of nostalgia, a hearkening back to a simpler time in life, and in the style of theatre, represented in this show,” said Cassie Greer, B&B Resident Actor and Co-director of the production. “It is funny and sweet, but it is also about love and forgiveness; it really is a perfect show for the holiday season.”

 

The show stars Bag&Baggage Resident Actor Arianne Jacques as Ms. Balash, and Associate Artist Joey Copsey as Mr. Horvath. Other cast members include familiar faces to B&B audiences, including Andrew Beck, David Heath, Eric St. Cyr, Stephanie Leppert, and Patrick Spike. Costumes designed by Resident Designer Melissa Heller, Scenic Designs by Director of Production and Design Megan Wilkerson, and lighting design by Jim Ricks-White.

 

Performances take place from November 25^th through December 23^rd, 2016 at The Venetian Theatre in downtown Hillsboro. Tickets can be found online at bagnbaggage.org or by calling the box office at 503 345 9590.

 

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Calendar Listings:

 

Parfumerie

by Miklos Laszlo, adapted by EP Dowdall

Co-Directed by Scott Palmer and Cassie Greer

The Venetian Theatre

253 E Main Street

Hillsboro, OR 97123

Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:00pm

November 25, 26, 27; December 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 2016

Tickets online at bagnbaggage.org or by calling the box office at 503 345 9590

Pay What You Will night: Thursday December 1st