Gulf Coast News Reviews “Same Time, Next Year”
Dave Elias | Reporter, Gulf Coast News Fort Myers
Published May 26, 2026
Gulf Coast Theatre Review: ‘Same Time, Next Year’
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The long-running Broadway hit “Same Time, Next Year,” now playing on the stage of Players Circle Theater along McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, follows Doris and George, played by theater favorites Kimberly Suskind and AJ Mendini, who meet during a one-night stand that unexpectedly turns into a relationship spanning 25 years. Even though both are married to other people, they agree to meet once a year at the exact same place for one weekend together.
What really makes this production work is the chemistry between Suskind and Mendini. The two feel natural together from the moment they first meet on stage, and as the years pass, audiences get to watch their relationship evolve through funny moments, heartbreak, personal struggles, and changing times.
The play moves through the decades in five-year jumps, and Director Ted Wioncek III brilliantly does a wonderful job helping the audience feel each era. During scene changes, video clips from the time periods help transport the audience back in time and remind us of what was happening in the world around these characters.
What starts out as a romantic comedy slowly becomes something deeper. Yes, there are plenty of laughs, but the story also explores how messy and complicated life can become — even for people who seem happily settled. Doris and George lean on each other through personal tragedies, life changes, and emotional struggles, and both actors do a great job making those moments feel genuine and relatable.
For me, the show felt a little like watching a puzzle slowly come together. Each scene adds another layer to these characters and their unusual relationship. By the end, it’s less about whether the affair is right or wrong and more about connection, timing, and the people who unexpectedly shape our lives.
I won’t spoil the ending if you’ve never seen the play before. Whether Doris and George stay together or finally go their separate ways is something audiences will have to discover for themselves.
“Same Time, Next Year” runs through June 7 at Players Circle Theater.
Tickets are available by visit this link or calling (239) 800-3292.
Players Circle Theater is located at 13211 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-800-3292.
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