The Forgotten Precinct

	Seasoned cops Jim Bob Cagney and Jack Lacey lounge in the squad room of the 75th police precinct eating doughnuts and drinking coffee. Their wisecracking banter is interrupted by a telephone call from the captain. He informs them that their 15-year old request for more personnel has finally been answered. 

	Officer Harriett Callahan strolls in, signaling an immediate invasion of the all-male bastion. Sparks fly as the men confront the cheeky, self-assured female. Another woman cop, Harriett Callahan, enters, evening the odds in the battle of the sexes. It appears that full-scale war is likely to break out.

	When the guys go out for lunch, the women take the opportunity to snoop in their desk drawers. They find an old newspaper clipping that triggers a new respect for the "dinosaur" cops. As the action unfolds, the odd foursome bust a robbery and learn more about each other. It seems a team of women and dinosaur cops can take down a restaurant-robbing gang in short order.

	The light comedy, performed by an enthusiastic crew, provided a riot of laughs for the audience throughout the play. Mark Tessier played the role of Jim Bob Cagney. His excellent performance is noteworthy because he had to take over at short notice for Michael Ray, whose sudden illness forced him to drop out. The rest of the cast, Larry Filzen (Jack Lacey); Jennifer Chapman (Harriett Callahan); Christy Ann Baker (Kathy Gordon); and Karla Hinton (Narrator) were directed by M. D. "Mike" French.

	The Orange Park Community Theatre presented "The Forgotten Precinct" in the Reader's Theatre format April 16 through 18th. Reader's Theatre strives to emulate the radio drama atmosphere with the actors reading from their scripts. Minimal stage setting and movement makes it possible to produce a play in streamlined fashion. The theater makes a special effort to include plays written by local authors.

	The playwright, John M. Goff, Jr., is a retired federal criminal investigator who lived in Jacksonville for nineteen years. He now calls St. Simons Island his home and has several plays to his credit.

	Orange Park Community Theatre is located at 2900 Moody Road, Orange Park. For more information see their website at www.opct.org. They recommend you call for reservations at 904-272-2599 or by email. A link is provided at the web site.

	 The Orange Park Community Theatre produces five full productions a year, plus four "Reader's Theatre" productions such as The Forgotten Precinct. In June, they will offer a musical, "Gypsy."

Lydia Filzen is an Orange Park author writing as Lydia Hawke. Her novel, Firetrail, is available through Wings Press and www.lydiahawke.us. She can also be contacted at 272-0726.