When given a choice, I’ll usually select the comedy, but this past week I had the opportunity to sample one from column A and one from column B.

In my never-ending quest to mix metaphors, I quite literally traveled over the river and through the woods to catch a comedy in Hawley, PA, followed by an oh-so-tragic love story in Lake Huntington, NY.  

My sojourn over the river took me to the Ritz Playhouse, a charming theatre rich in history, presenting live theatre for over 50 years. The show, “Something Rotten!” is a hilarious musical romp set in London, England circa 1500. Written by Grammy award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick and screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’ Farrell, “Rotten” is a comedic sendup of all things Broadway musical, referencing dozens of hit shows along the way—think “Annie,” “South Pacific” and “The Music Man,” to name but a few.

Based on the premise that play-writing brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom set out to write the world’s first musical, the story is as original as it can be, with the audience being in on the joke, happily along for the ride.

Truth be told, I didn’t think that the Ritz Company Players had it in them, but (you read it here first, folks) I was wrong. Really, really wrong, and my faith in community theatre has been restored.

Peppered with familiar characters like Shylock, Nostradamus (sort of) and the Bard himself—William Shakespeare, a successful production of “Something Rotten” requires great comic timing, serious acting skills and vocal prowess. Fortunately for the audience, this production has all of those elements and more.

Aided and abetted by a wonderful community ensemble that sang and danced their hearts out, “Something Rotten!” showcases the fantastic musical antics of CJ Shultz (Nick), a super-sweet Alex Sereits (Nigel), and Keith Winter, swiveling his hips and oozing sex appeal as Shakespeare himself. Additional highlights from comic character actors Steve Davis and Mark Zimmer delighted the sold-out crowd.

“Rotten” is written as a male-dominated show, and those mentioned are really talented, but it’s definitely ladies’ night at the Ritz. The show featured the lovely Savannah Powell (Portia); a star turn by Broadway belter Mason Marie Clark (Bea); and the scene-stealing antics of Caroline Lehman (Nostradamus—sort of), who brings down the house with “A Musical,” upon which the entire show is built.

Lehman has a great voice, but someone needs to give this woman a mic, please.

Under the musical direction of conductor Polina Pastushenko and Stephen Faubel, the pit band was amazing; and the costuming, choreography, scenic and lighting desig, all led by the stylish, creative and imaginative stage direction of Sandy Gabrielson at the helm, impressed me. I’m a huge fan of this show, and now I’m a fan of the Ritz Playhouse too.

As for the tragedy, it’s no secret that Puccini’s “La Bohème” is incredibly sad. As performed by the Delaware Valley Opera (DVO) the sob-fest is presented in English; it is uplifted by glorious voices, a lush score and an accomplished 10-piece orchestra.

It’s played out on a beautiful set designed and painted by Barclay Lottimer and Keith Eisenstark.

Described in the program as a “coming-of-age story,” the plot unfolds around the bohemian lives of starving artists, writers, musicians, philosophers and the women they love in 1830s Paris.

It’s an opera, folks, so there are a lot of key players. Stars Kelsey Watts, Tshombe Selby, Samantha Stinson, Jonathan Stinson, Erik Tofte and Gennadiy Vosotskiy did the heavy lifting, assisted by players Robert Flora, Gary Ott , Barclay Lottimer and a small chorus of “Supernumeraries.”

The performances were moving, and the singers’ beautiful voices (IMHO) without fault. Director Carol Castel’s keen eye for creating beautiful moving pictures allowed the audience to be transported to Puccini’s world, that of a tightly-knit group of carefree friends who are (spoiler alert!) devastated by the death of one of their own.

Once again, it’s an opera, folks. Wouldn’t be worth its salt if someone didn’t die, but I can assure you, she takes her time. Rodolfo (Selby) and Mimi (Watts) meet, fall in love, and agree to separate in order to get her the medical help she requires—as their friends support their decisions while musically gnashing their teeth over the ultimate demise of our heroine.

Honestly, before the curtain fell, I thought she was dead several times, but in true operatic form, the comely Mimi fades a bit, then sings. She faints momentarily, then rallies and sings again. Toward the end, I was positive that she was gone, but like a phoenix rising from the ashes and bolstered by Rodolfo’s grieving lament, she sits up for a moment, sings a duet with him, swoons a bit more, sings again and then expires. What? It’s an opera, folks!

Both productions play through July 23. For “Something Rotten!” tickets and info, call 570/226-9752 or visit www.ritzplayhouse.com.

To reserve seats for Puccini’s “La Bohème,” go to www.DelawareValleyOpera.org.