'Seniors of the Sahara' finds a genie in the retirement home

IF YOU GOWhat: "Seniors of the Sahara."When: 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday, Feb. 24-25 with an additional 1 p.m. matinee Feb. 25.Where: Catoosa County Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga.Admission: $11 adults, $9 seniors/students, $8 groups.Phone: 935-9000.Website: www.colonadecenter.org.

Take one part "The Golden Girls" and one part "Aladdin," stir, and you have the romantic comedy "Seniors of the Sahara," which makes its area debut today at the Catoosa County Colonnade.

The Stageworks Entertainment production, written by Barbara Pease Weber, will run for two weekends.

"It's a fun show," said director Hollie Baranick. "It's not been done in this area, and that's what I love about it -- the uniqueness of it. I think people will enjoy the humor, get into the story and the comedy and walk away a little lighter for the laughing."

The story finds retired New Jersey schoolteacher Sylvia Goldberg (portrayed by Kathy Morris) just returned from her grandson's wedding in Israel, where she purchased an old teapot at an outdoor market. However, the old teapot is actually an ancient relic containing a geriatric genie, Eugene (Phil Ledbetter), who has a bad back and a penchant for V8 with vodka.

Once her problem is out of the bottle, she not only must hide him from her retirement-home buddies Mabel, Thelma and Fannie, but she must also hold back his villainous former master.

"It's very witty," said Baranick. "There are a lot of one-liners. [The show] has a lot of life and vitality, some of it dealing with getting older."

Baranick said the show has some mild innuendo but is appropriate for all ages that would appreciate the humor.

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