By Pat Septak

What do you do when you’ve got relationship problems? Many people would go to Dr. Phil. If your love life has gone REALLY sour then you’d probably end on up the Jerry Springer show. But Vincent - the lead character in “The 13th of Paris”, a new modern-day romantic comedy which had its world premiere this week at the City Theatre on Pittsburgh’s South Side, takes a different approach. He takes off for an apartment he’s inherited in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.
And that’s where the story - and the laughs - begin. This is a one-set 90-minute play with a cast of six and no intermission. Director Melia Bensussen sets the mood perfectly with dark lighting and French accordion music playing throughout the transitions. During his “getaway” in Paris, Vincent (played by Matthew Dellapina), is visited by Jacques (Ed Genest), the ghost of his grandfather, who is hilarious and provides many of the play’s funniest lines. You see, Jacques is from the “old school” of romance, and when he tries to instruct his grandson (who’s much more influenced by the manners of modern couples) as to the proper way to court a woman, he discovers he’s got his work cut out .
The stand-out performer here is Theo Allyn, who plays Vincent’s girlfriend Annie. Vincent becomes frustrated because he and Annie have some major communication problems. They never have a meaningful conversation, even during a two-hour dinner together. Vincent also becomes frustrated at the fact that Annie never appears to get angry with him, even when he’s at his most obnoxious. Allyn plays Annie with the perfect combination of subtle humor and outright wackiness. She’s makes Annie the one character in the play who seems real.
A subplot involving the arrival of Annie’s friend Jessica (Jenny Wales) and her new husband William (Gregory Johnstone) provides a few laughs, but ultimately drags the story down. The story, penned by Mat Smart, is much more interesting when the focus is on Vincent, and whether he’ll be able to find the love he imagines is possible.
If you do go see “The 13th Of Paris”, make sure you bring a date. It’s better than watching Dr. Phil.
(Runs thru Feb. 17, 2008).

A look at the newly renovated Frank G. Pogue Student Center at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in video courtsy of www.goerie.com and www.erietube.com

U Report Video Sent To US From Erie, Also listed On Erie Tube Also listed on www.goerie.com

A driver lost control of her car on an icy hill and rolled it into Mill Creek in the 5200 block of Lake Pleasant Road in Millcreek Township on Jan. 30. Firefighters from Millcreek, Belle Valley and Erie as well as Millcreek police responded, and it took over 30 minutes for rescuers to free her. Video by JACK HANRAHAN/Erie Times-News

Steris Corp.’s the Mentor, Ohio-based company said that it’s revising its second-half expectations downward as a result of lower-than-expected productivity at its Guadalupe, Mexico, plant. The plant makes steam steralizers, and had made them until 2007 in Erie PA. Looking to cut payroll, the plant moved jobs to the current facility in Guadalupe. The same fate met Warner Ladder of Suger Grove Township, and Trinity Industries of Greenville, where reworked production cost, shotty labor, poor worker knowledge, and low productivity cost all three companies money in the long run.About 450 local jobs were lost in a move that was expected to save the company about $20 million a year in wages and benefits. combination of strong demand and slower productivity has helped the company build a record order backlog of $107.3 million, an increase of 22 percent from the previous year. However, the backlog would be lower in the us, as American workers completed more units in a timely fashion, which in turn would of improved the top line. The copany also sites higher material costs as part of the problem
The company’s third-quarter revenues rose 5 percent to $314 million compared to the third quarter of the previous year. Net income for the quarter was $21.8 million, compared to $21.3 million for the previous year.Steris, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, closed the day Wednesday at $24.66, up $1.18.

Clarion-based State Police are investigating a reported bomb threat from earlier this week.According to police, someone left a message of a bomb at the Clarion County Career Center sometime during the early afternoon hours on Monday. Police didn’t say whether the message was oral or written.

Butler Township police report the arrest of a Butler man for harassing a witness in an upcoming trial against him.26-year-old John O’Neil Beatty, Jr. was charged with intimidation of a victim/witness and making terroristic threats. Police say Beatty called the victim/witness in a theft case that is pending against him and made the threat.Beatty was arraigned on the charges and placed in the Butler County Jail on $10,000 bond.

A tractor-trailer accident last week in Lawrence County sent its driver to the hospital.New Castle-based State Police say 27-year-old Edward Walton of Hermitage was traveling south on Route 168 when he made a left turn onto Route 8014. As he was making the turn, the load shifted inside the trailer, causing it to roll over onto its passenger side.Walton was taken to Jamison Hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

An male inmate at the Crawford County jail has died at the jail, according to Crawford County District Attorney and chairman of the county prison board, Francis Schultz.
Schultz said an autopsy will be conducted at 1 p.m. at Dr. Eric Vey of Erie County.
The death is being investigated, Schultz said.
The inmate’s identity is not being released until it is certain that all relatives have been notified, said Schultz.
Inside sources tell Allen Media that the death is under investigation and a lock down was in place for an undisclosed period of time.
At any given time the jail has a medical ward to handle basic cases, inmates with more advanced medical problem are sent to area hospitals for treatment, a guard is posted at the door. Those with very serious conditions, and terminal are often released to family members for final life care.
No information was known if the individual had prior medical problems, or if this was a prison related injury.