Actor to play 40 roles

Last Christmas when we were in New York, we stopped in at the Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel, where we had dined many times before going to a matinee performance.

But the maitre'd brusquely told us: "I'm sorry, but we're fully committed."

We wondered what exactly the Palm Court was committed to. Was it committed to peace in Iraq or the United Way or maybe to the New York Food Bank?

What the snooty maitre'd meant, of course, was that all the reservations had been filled.

Apparently "fully committed" has become a catchword that just won't disappear, and so playwright Becky Mode decided to write a one-person show set during the hectic yuletide season titled "Fully Committed."

The acerbic comedy opens as a production at Pure Theatre just in time to provide some perspective on this frantic time of the year, as the story follows an out-of-work actor, Sam Peliczowski, who mans the red-hot reservation line at Manhattan's trendiest restaurant.

In a barrage of phone calls, he faces coercion, bribes, histrionics and even threats from a cast of desperate callers, who will stop at nothing in their zeal to land a prime spot at the right table.

Amid the madness, poor Sam has his own problems to contend with: His recently widowed dad wants him home for Christmas, and he's up for a choice part in a play at Lincoln Center, but must audition. How can he manage to look out for himself while juggling scheming socialites, name-dropping wannabes, fickle celebrities and egomaniacal bosses?

In addition, he must face in person temperamental Chef Claude and selfish staff members. But he always manages to strike the exact timbre of tact and patience as we witness the bad behavior that good food and social climbing can inspire.

Taking on the personas of 40 characters over 90 minutes is Pure co-founder Rodney Lee Rogers, who performed the piece four years ago to great success.

Pure co-founder and artistic director Sharon Graci, who will direct the production, says, "What makes 'Fully Committed' so tremendous is that it's a terrific challenge for an actor of Rodney's caliber to undertake, yet the comedy is such an immense treat for the audience."

After making its New York debut in 1999, "Fully Committed" was named one of the 10 Best Plays by Time Magazine in 2000. One critic called it "a heartwarming tale with a pleasantly cynical edge that complements the servings of sophisticated satire."

Rogers, who was a hit in plays such as "The Tragedian," "The Seafarer" and "Underneath the Lintel," has appeared on television's "Army Wives" and has performed in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, where his film, "Steaming Milk," which he wrote and acted in, won Best Actor and other awards at the 1997 Seattle Film Festival.

Playwright Mode is a former actress, waitress and coat-check girl. She has written for HBO, CBS and the Disney Channel.

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704 or dashley@postandcourier.com.