By Susan Bryant

sbryant@tnonline.com LOU WHEELAND Special to The Press

Players of the Stage, a faith-based community of young actors is performing “Love Labors Happily Ever After” Dec. 9, 10 and 11 at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, 330 Schantz Road, Lower Macungie.

“Love Labors Happily Ever After,” written and directed by Sharon Barshinger Noel, revisits fairy tale endings with a Shakespearean twist.

According to the Players of the Stage website, “Starting right before the happily ever afters of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, our fairytale couples are thrust along Shakespearean plot points from ‘Love Labors Lost,’ ‘As You Like It,’ ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ with a hint of ‘Macbeth.’

“The result is a hilarious comedy about discovering nature true love as our heroes and heroines work together to defeat Maleficent and make sure she never meddles in their lives again.”

Megan Wolfe, who portrays Ella from Cast 1 commented on her role.

“I play the character Ella, more commonly known as Cinderella,” Wolfe said. “Ella is a very strong minded, independent woman, who displays a different type of romance and standards for women in this time period.

“Ella does not like to be pushed around and is extremely loyal to her friends. She shows a different portrayal of the classic Cinderella.”

Ella does not back down when a situation arises.

“Ella sticks to what she believes in, even when everyone around her doesn’t. Ella is able to learn and grow by acknowledging her mistakes to become a better version of herself,” Wolfe added.

“I really enjoy the life-long friendships I have made with wonderful people who accept me for who I am,” Wolfe said.

“I also appreciate the time, energy and patience that our director, Sharon Noel, has put into guiding me to become a better actor and an even better person.

“POTS has given me the opportunity to grow my acting skills and pursue a career in acting. I was also able to form three amazing friendships.”

Micah Renzi, who plays Prince Kit IV from Cast 1, commented on his role.

“My character is Cristoph Edward Henry, the IV Crown Prince of Bavaria, but he wants to be referred to as Prince Kit,” Renzi said. “He is proper and respectable, but gets easily annoyed at Eugene’s comments and lack of urgency with the vow.

“Kit makes a vow forswearing love so he doesn’t have to deal with the pain of not seeing Ella. He also doesn’t want his father to arrange his marriage so that contributes to the making of the vow.”

Renzi said it has been a blast playing Kit as he gets to express frustration a couple of times and gets to taunt and jest with the other princes.

“It has also been a lot of fun developing as the character and seeing how far it’s come from the first day of rehearsal,” he stated. “This show has been amazing. I love all of the humor and funny comments made throughout the show; whether it’s sarcasm or teasing. I often enjoy making those comments, myself.”

Salvatore Boccadoro, who portrays Prince Kit IV from Cast 2 and wears 18th century French posh dressware for the play, also commented on his role.

“Christoph Edward Henry IV, the Crown Prince of Bavaria, is known as Kit IV. Also known as Prince Charming, he is the son of Tom the King,” Boccadoro said.

He said the word he would use to describe Kit is “snooty,” and he think that’s a fun side to play with.

“Most of the fun comes from the cast mates and director, although it’s great to hear from the audience as well,” he added.

Writer and Director Barshinger Noel explained why this show was chosen to perform.

“We choose this show as a continuation of our Renaissance themed 20th celebration,” Barshinger Noel said.

“We had a good mix of ages among our actors going into this fall and wanted to perform a play that enabled younger and older kids to have significant roles. ‘Love Labors Happily Ever After provided that.’”

The show is a parody of fairy tales, especially Disney’s interpretation, and Shakespearean plot points.

Barshinger Noel developed the play several years ago as she was comparing the similar plots of several of the main Disney princess movies and thinking about the unrealistic portrayal of love and romance they promote.

Barshinger Noel said to finish out their 20th-year celebration, they are raising funds with this show to upgrade the lighting system.

“After 20 years of getting a piece of equipment here and a piece of equipment there, POTS is in need of an overhaul,” she said. “We are shooting to raise $7,500 for the lights.”

“Love Labors Happily Ever After” performances will be presented 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 10 and 11; and 2 p.m. Dec. 11.

Tickets may be reserved by emailing potstickets@gmail.com.