Power, secrets and laughter: 'The Minutes' takes the stage at Melbourne Civic Theatre

Melbourne Civic Theatre is gearing up to reveal a small town's secrets, as Tracy Letts' play "The Minutes" promises a night of suspense, laughter and a dose of introspection. The satiric comedy opens Friday, Jan. 19 for a run through Feb. 25.

A darkly comic exploration of small-town politics, the play delves into the minutiae of city council meetings in the fictional town of Big Cherry. Mundane on the surface, the meeting becomes the battleground for power and the skeletons that communities keep hidden.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning "August: Osage County" to the psychologically gripping "Bug," Letts has an uncanny ability to peel back the layers of seemingly ordinary lives and expose the raw, often uncomfortable, truths beneath. "The Minutes" was nominated for a Tony Award in 2022.

"I saw this show on Broadway and had that experience of, 'Oh my gosh, what a thought-provoking and funny play,'" said Peg Girard, MCT's managing and artistic director. "I knew immediately that it would make a great show for MCT, and one that I would be personally excited to bring to life."

There is a blend of humor and tension woven throughout the narrative, which explores the dark underbelly of municipal politics, revealing the sometimes absurd machinations that keep the wheels of local governance turning.

"The situation of a city council meeting is easily relatable and provides the setting for the kinds of ridiculous exchanges that are comedy gold," Girard said. "Tracy Letts... creates characters who are distinctive, quirky, very human and very funny. The preposterous things they say butt up against, yet never cross the line of believability."

In the intimate space of Melbourne Civic Theatre, the proximity between the actors and the audience is so close you feel you are actually in the room with the characters. It's a setting that transforms the spectator from a passive observer into a participant in the unfolding drama.

MCT chose the play with eerie timeliness. These days when the political landscape seems to be always teetering on the edge of absurdity, "The Minutes" hits close to home.

But although the story encourages the audience to confront truths about the lengths people will go to protect their interests, Girard says the comedy won't saturate the audience with political commentary.

"While it's been described as a 'political satire,' I don't think of it in that way," Girard said. "As soon as you use the 'p-word,' thoughts turn to Washington, partisanship, Congress, all of that stuff everyone's exhausted with and none of which factors into this story."

"If I can compare it to classic TV," she said, "there's more of 'The Andy Griffith Show' in the play than there is of 'The West Wing.' With a chilling 'The Twilight Zone' plot twist tossed in. And maybe just a hint of 'The Sopranos.'"

Girard has assembled a cast of longtime MCT favorites, newcomers and some revered theater veterans. "We're blessed with an outstanding cast, which just proves that if you choose exciting material, the talent will turn out," she said.

"The characters are at turns hilarious in their cluelessness, and terrifying in their selfishness and delusion. It's just fun material to dig into."

By the time the curtain falls, you'll be left with more questions than answers. "The Minutes" is an invitation to reflect on the power dynamics that shape the communities in which we live, but all through a comic lens.

If you go

'The Minutes'

Where: Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 25

Tickets: $35

Info: 321-723-6935

Website: mymct.org

Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melbourne Civic Theatre presents the suspenseful comedy 'The Minutes'