Florida Weekly’s Review of Flatlanders

Kristin Voit | Florida Weekly Correspondent

Published March 26, 2025

When Michael and Ronnie slide their car into a tree during a blizzard in the Poconos, they take refuge in a nearby cabin owned by total strangers. As the couple uncovers secrets and shares connections with their hosts, what ensues is a comic romp full of laughter and surprises.

Players Circle Theater brings “Flatlanders,” written by award-winning Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham, to the stage for a Southeastern United States premiere production sure to keep audiences in stitches.

Graham, who teaches film and theatre courses at Drexel University, found inspiration from the effects of modern technology on genuine interpersonal communication.

“I’ve been kind of interested in the phenomenon that the more ways we have to communicate (cell phones, email, texting… etc.), the less we actually seem to communicate,” he said. “But that was just a thought, and I needed an engine for the play. Then I remembered a story from years ago — a buddy ran his truck off the road and had to break into a trailer for the night. It was an abandoned trailer. Not many laughs in that.”

“I suppose the one thing that makes ‘Flatlanders’ different is the slapstick, which I love. I’ve written a ton of sight gags for movies, but never the stage. I try to make all my characters relatable — even the criminals and psychopaths. I loathe plays where I feel like an outsider. I love it when, during the play, I see people nod or nudge the person with them. Then I know I’ve hit a note with them. (I) found out something very interesting during the initial productions: a lot of people have a love of pillows. This covered both gay and straight audience members. Frankly, I don’t get it. I think throw pillows are a pain in the ass. My wife, on the other hand.” Graham joked.

Ted Wioncek III, Associate Artistic Director of Players Circle Theater, plays the role of Michael in the production. His wife, the theater’s director of education, Kimberly Suskind, portrays Michael’s partner Ronnie in the show.

“Playing opposite Kimberly is a dream,” Wioncek said. “There are advantages, such as being able to run lines at home or pulling from our real-life experiences together. But there is also a level of unparalleled trust. In any play, but particularly a two-person vehicle, there is an unbelievable amount of listening and responding. If I am not locked in throughout the entire performance, it’s not just my scene partner (to) whom I’m showing a lack of support — it’s my life partner, my wife. I have always found Kimberly to be a very honest performer. She has a fire in her eyes that makes each character she plays come alive.”

Suskind also relishes the opportunity to collaborate with her real-life husband to bring “Flatlanders” to local audiences.

“I absolutely love working on new plays. Bruce is a wonderful writer, and the discoveries made in the rehearsal room are so exciting as an actor,” she said. “I love how this play explores universal themes of being in a relationship. Everyone in our audiences will be able to see themselves in Ronnie and Michael and the joys and frustrations of being in a long-term relationship. What could be better than performing a two-person play with your real-life teammate? Living with my scene partner also helps a lot with memorizing lines.”

Suskind identifies with many aspects of her character’s personality, particularly the creativity — and anxiety — Ronnie exhibits throughout the play.

“I see so much of myself in Ronnie,” she said. “I’ve been accused of being neurotic a few hundred times in my life. All jokes aside, she is an incredibly passionate, loving, artistic person who had a difficult childhood and came through the other end lovably flawed. I certainly didn’t have a challenging childhood, as I come from a very supportive family, but her artistry easily connects to my life in the theater. Her dedication to her passion is inspiring.”

“Flatlanders” director Robert Cacioppo is also co-founder and artistic director of Players Circle Theater. Cacioppo met Graham 38 years ago at a play festival at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Last fall, Players Circle produced a play reading of “Flatlanders,” and the audience’s reactions prompted Cacioppo to stage a full production this year.

“If you’re married or in a relationship or been in a relationship, you’re going to connect to it in the most hilarious way,” Cacioppo said. “I saw the audience relating to that and to the little things that may be funny but that couples get mad at each other for — he’s mad at her for leaving the lights on. She’s mad at him because he never closes drawers. When that line happened during the reading, I saw couples pointing at each other, laughing, whispering, ‘That’s you.’ Bruce is writing something not just for laughs but something very personal and relatable to all of us.”

As the play explores the dynamics of relationships and communication in an era of digital that offers a multitude of alternatives to face-to-face conversations, the inevitable breakdown in personal interactions between the characters makes for great comedy.

“Our iPhone, computers and various modern conveniences and technologies are supposed to make our life easier, but they can hurt,” Cacioppo said. “That is the gist of this play. These two very nice people who have been in a relationship haven’t really talked and listened to each other in years because they’re so involved with their careers and devices. When they are finally left in the middle of nowhere in a radio-free zone, that is when they start to communicate for the first time in years. What they learn about each other may be a surprise to us all.”

Cacioppo compares Graham to a modern-day Neil Simon and believes that in addition to enjoying the sharp comedic dialogue, audiences will no doubt identify with the vulnerabilities and the heart in “Flatlanders.”

“I think audiences will embrace this new play because, in the end, through all the high jinks and hilarity, love prevails,” agreed Wioncek.

In the KNOW

“Flatlanders”

· Where: Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers

· When: Now through April 6 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances start at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday matinee performances start at 3 p.m.)

· Tickets: $40-$55

Players Circle Theater is located at 13211 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-800-3292.