Cons: Stocking a full diner with retro appliances and food. There is a lot of food. There's the cooking of it, the safe storing of it. The talking and eating at the same time.  I hate working with food. 

 

Linda

 

Cons: Ditto on period items and food.  Other problems are the overlapping combinations of people stuck in a one room set.  Very few places for characters to "wander off."  Another possible con is the male-heavy cast list.  Also, the Virgil character has to play the guitar.  I've seen it done with his back to the audience with piped in music, but I like it better when the actor can handle both the role and the instrument.  And hopefully your audience will not be expecting a "Marilyn-clone" for the actress playing Cherie.

 

All in all, it's a magnificent piece of theatre when done well and, since it's a staple in community theatre histories, many people do.

 

Cons - the food made me crazy.  Our director insisted that we have a fully operational 'kitchen' as it were, so the actors/actresses could brew coffee, make toast and fry eggs.  It made our patrons crazy, but on the good side, concessions were really high for that run!  Food safety is important, so make sure if you do go the real food route that someone knows and understands basic food safety and sanitation rules.  And make sure you have a food only trash bin so that it can be taken out each night.  Otherwise, you might end up with a not-so-nice surprise!

 

Charlie