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Knock Knock, Whodunnit? Jim Catapano finds fun at CLUE
The MCT’s Imagining of Clue delights at the BACCA Arts Center
It is the early 1950s, a time when everyone is suspicious of everyone else. By invitation, several of society’s supposed finest gather at the mansion of Mr. Boddy (Mark John Santaromita) on a stormy night. They are familiar archetypes with political influence, all known for the occasion by the special pseudonyms bestowed on them by their mysterious host: Colonel Mustard (Joe Hoffman), Mrs. White (Pamela Seiderman), Mrs. Peacock (Elizabeth DeGennaro), Mr. Green (Ed Cress), Professor Plum (Gary Tifeld) and Miss Scarlet (Meredith Lynn Spencer). The guests are greeted by the very shady butler Wadsworth (Dan Bellusci) and the very French maid Yvette (Heather Legnosky). After clenched-teeth pleasantries, cocktails, and shark’s fin soup (Mrs. Peacock’s favorite, as the cook is creepily aware of), Mr. Boddy appears and reveals he is blackmailing them all, and then hands them their “gifts”; potential murder weapons for one of them to use to kill Wadsworth to protect their secrets before he contacts the authorities. The lights go out, and the fun begins as the bodies pile up and the suspects grow more desperate and frantic.
Sandy Rustin’s stage play Clue, based on the 1985 cult classic film based on the classic board game, is revisited through a wonderful new production by the Modern Classics Theatre of Long Island. It is directed with great panache by Matt Stashin, with clever set design by John Emro and Rian Romeo. A set of moving doors create the illusion of a vast mansion, and they are used to great effect as the characters peer in and out of them, race through them, and shudder at what horrors might be found behind them. High-energy chase music accompanies the characters rushing from room to room between scenes as the sets are swiftly and skillfully swapped—the scene changes are almost as entertaining as the show itself. This is a very physical production; the actors throw themselves bodily into every sequence as they deftly handle the complex wordplay, which is delivered rapid-fire; the audience is still laughing at the previous joke when another one comes hurtling at them.
In addition to the always witty and often hysterical dialogue, there are wonderful sight gags: the actual board game of Clue is used as a map to the mansion; one of the murder victims (James Brautigam) resets the scenery and gets back into position dead on the floor, in full view of the audience; a chandelier falls in super-slow motion as its victim recoils and screams equally slowly; the suspects prop up the dead bodies Weekend at Bernie’s-style to fool a prying police officer. Sound is also a big part of the fun: the ominous doorbell; the barking guard dogs outside; the incredibly loud dinner gong of the cook (Karen Santaromita) which traumatizes everyone, and Mrs. Peacock’s blood-curdling, sound barrier-breaking screams. Karen Santaromita’s double duty as a cheery but ill-fated singing telegram provides one of the show’s funniest moments as the murders accelerate. “Three bodies in three minutes!” marvels one suspect. “That’s our best record!”
Clue boasts a cast of 11 and a character count of 15—in this incarnation, every murder victim humorously gets to be reincarnated as a police officer.
The actors of the ensemble are all perfectly cast, and hilarious in their distrust and barely concealed contempt for each other as they desperately try to avoid suspicion and/or death. Late in the play when Wadsworth breathlessly recounts and acts out the events of the entire evening, Bellusci’s performance is astonishing. And true to the source material, multiple dénouements are explored, as every character gets a chance to have done it. “But it really happened like this…”
Clue is performed at the BACCA Arts Center through Sunday March 16.
From “Tonight Show” Writer to Funerals with Punchlines: Brad Dickson’s “Lovely Idiots” Comes to NYC
Get ready for a funeral unlike any you’ve attended before. Playwright Brad Dickson, Emmy Award-winning former staff writer for “The Tonight Show,” is bringing his uproarious play, “Lovely Idiots,” to New York City for an industry presentation. Known for his sharp wit and comedic timing, Dickson invites audiences to a memorial service brimming with laughter, proving that even death can be darn funny.
Dickson’s diverse background shines through in his work. From writing jokes for late-night television to penning humor columns in the days of thriving newspapers, his comedic voice has resonated across various mediums. His essays have graced the pages of prestigious publications like the Los Angeles Times and America Magazine, and he’s even co-authored two books published by Simon & Schuster. This breadth of experience clearly informs his playwriting, bringing a seasoned understanding of comedy to the stage.
“Lovely Idiots” centers around a group of New York actors and producers who gather to mourn the passing of a once-famous theatrical icon. But this isn’t your typical somber affair. Dickson’s play promises a comedic exploration of the theater world, its personalities, and perhaps even the absurdity of life itself. The premise alone hints at the kind of witty observations and character-driven humor that Dickson is known for.
This isn’t Dickson’s first foray into the theater world. His plays have been produced in numerous venues across the United States and Canada, demonstrating his commitment to the stage. “Lovely Idiots” marks another exciting chapter in his playwriting career, offering New York audiences a taste of his unique comedic perspective.
The industry presentation of “Lovely Idiots” will take place on Thursday, April 3rd, at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM at Open Jar Studios, located at 1601 Broadway, New York City. Those interested in attending this unique theatrical experience can contact 646-338-5472 or [email address removed] for further details and to RSVP. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the comedic genius of Brad Dickson and experience a funeral that’s sure to leave you in stitches.
Two Deep Cuts from a Legendary Playwright: Jim Catapano reviews Anton Chekhov
Two Deep Cuts from a Legendary Playwright
Chekhov’s Witty One-Act Character Studies Are Showcased at the ATA
The coupling of A Tragedian In Spite of Himself and The Anniversary is a delicious sampler of the work of the iconic Anton Chekhov, suited for both aficionados and newcomers. It’s another triumph for the American Theatre of Actors as it begins its 49th season.
A Tragedian… is a two-hander written in 1889, where “Chekhov’s Gun” gets an immediate namecheck. Ivan Ivanovitch Tolkachov (Devon Lawler) asks to borrow said revolver from his friend Alexey Alexeyevitch Murashkin (Harry Cooke). “If you don’t lend me a revolver than somebody else will!” he shouts. When Alexey admits he cannot detect what exactly is wrong with his friend’s life, Ivan proceeds to tell him…in incredible detail. Lawler is riveting as he delivers a long, frantic, impassioned monologue, raging against the perceived injustices of his existence. “Nobody has any sympathy for me, and everyone seems to think that all is as it should be!” he seethes—the final insult to him is his peers’ ignorance of his plight. It’s a complex stream-of-consciousness piece that Two Deep Cuts from a Legendary Playwright
Chekhov’s Witty One-Act Character Studies Are Showcased at the ATA
The coupling of A Tragedian In Spite of Himself and The Anniversary is a delicious sampler of the work of the iconic Anton Chekhov, suited for both aficionados and newcomers. It’s another triumph for the American Theatre of Actors as it begins its 49th season.
A Tragedian… is a two-hander written in 1889, where “Chekhov’s Gun” gets an immediate namecheck. Ivan Ivanovitch Tolkachov (Devon Lawler) asks to borrow said revolver from his friend Alexey Alexeyevitch Murashkin (Harry Cooke). “If you don’t lend me a revolver than somebody else will!” he shouts. When Alexey admits he cannot detect what exactly is wrong with his friend’s life, Ivan proceeds to tell him…in incredible detail. Lawler is riveting as he delivers a long, frantic, impassioned monologue, raging against the perceived injustices of his existence. “Nobody has any sympathy for me, and everyone seems to think that all is as it should be!” he seethes—the final insult to him is his peers’ ignorance of his plight. It’s a complex stream-of-consciousness piece that Lawler performs with astonishing energy and tremendous skill. (His “fed-up-ness” will have you nodding in solidarity.) Through it all Cooke’s Alexa listens with apparent sympathy, but then shockingly makes a request of Ivan that indicates he didn’t take in a word that his friend said, thus proving Ivan right. This sends the teetering Ivan over the edge, and chaos inevitably—and fittingly—reigns.
In The Anniversary, Anton takes on corporate life, and it’s striking to see how the piece—also from 1889—resonates in 2025. A farcical story set at a private bank, it concerns one Andrey Shipuchin (Jonathan Beebe), the company’s chairman, as he gathers his colleagues and shareholders to celebrate the institution’s 15th anniversary. Unfortunately for Shipuchin and all involved, events quickly go comedically south. Harry Cooke returns as the frustrated clerk Kusma, lamenting the chairman’s empty promises even as he prepares to craft his boss’ speech for the occasion. Natasha Sahs is hilarious as Andrey’s obnoxious wife Tatiana, who cannot stop talking about things that are not remotely relevant to anyone else. Kate Jergensen’s Natasha arrives to very humorously ruin the vibe even further, demanding that the bank pay her husband’s salary even though there’s no evidence that he ever worked there.
The actors collectively shine, providing a masterclass in realizing Chekhov’s classic and clever material, resulting in a can’t-miss dual production that demonstrates how words written long ago still resonate in the early 21st century.
A Tragedian In Spite of Himself and The Anniversary are directed by John DeBenedetto. They run at the American Theatre of Actors through February 2, 2025.
Jim Catapano reviews a Letter-Perfect Power Play
Frank Cossa’s Witty Character Study Bows at the ATA
While sipping an adult beverage at a professional conference, Doctor Emma Vanderlyn (Isabelle Garbani) meets a charming man who she describes as “oddly cute, in a cutely odd kind of way.” However, to her horror the man turns out to be her arch-nemesis, tenured professor Pete Brasso (Alan Hasnas). Years earlier, Brasso had single-handedly brought to a near-halt the academic career of Emma’s husband, Josh Sperling (Dan Wuerdeman). Brasso had sent a letter to the editor of The Art Review, pointing out a serious factual error in Sperling’s article in the journal regarding the artist Whistler. This action led to Sperling’s credentials being questioned, culminating in the rejection of his own tenure. The incident, in her estimation, “ruined her life”— and she’s ready for revenge, but in a very unusual manner.
Thus begins About That Letter, a sharp and engaging one-act by Bronx-born Frank Cossa. To the sounds of the Pomp and Circumstance Graduation March, we flash back to Emma and Josh learning of Brasso’s letter; Josh is in despair—admitting Brasso is right, and correctly predicting the dire consequences of it. Emma seethes that the triumphant life path she had sought through her husband’s success is about to be denied her; she is almost Lady Macbeth-like in her rage. She scoffs at Josh’s suggestion that it will end up ok: “I don’t want OK, I want pretty damn good!”
Returning to the present, things have taken an unexpected turn—after copious drinks, Emma has “slept with the enemy.” Wearing the fluffy white robes of the hotel they are staying in, they bask in the afterglow the next morning, until Emma reveals her motives and gives us a clearer picture of the calculating, success-obsessed person underneath the professional charm and decorum.
“I wanted to know what it felt like to have sex with a man I detest,” she proclaims unapologetically. (There’s a slang term for that, but I won’t repeat it here.) Still reveling in the satisfaction of this, she gleefully assassinates his character, dismissing him as a poser and a hypocrite who rambles on meaninglessly (“A Rebel Without a Pause” is one of her more memorable dismissals). And circumstances only escalate from there…
The three actors bring Cossa’s compelling story beautifully to life, delivering his insightful and humorous observations with relish. It’s a terrific study of human interaction and dysfunction, and how the desperate desire to be somebody leads to some shocking life choices.
About That Letter is directed by Art Bernal with co-direction by Candice Jean-Jacques. It is presented at the Beckman Theatre at the American Theatre of Actors through December 21, 2024.
Jim Catapano is seeing double: two shows at the ATA
The Oddest of Couples: Meny Beriri Brings Two Witty and Insightful Character Studies to the ATA
Opposites may attract, but they also repel pretty quickly too, as Meny Beriri observes in his two new one-act pieces, Smoking Kills and SKU. They complement each other perfectly as each is a look at two sets of people struggling to get on the same page. Each pairing features one cynic, and one hopeless romantic; one cautious, and the other free-spirited; one level-headed, and the other obsessive; one grounded in reality, and the other in Hallmark movie-land. Both plays take place in a post-pandemic world, which informs the approaches to life of all the characters—it’s basically “Let’s Form a Connection” vs. “Leave Me Be.”
SKU: “We’ll always have Paris Baguette!”
Alex (Gordon Rothman) and Melanie (Stacey Petricha) are fresh from their memorable date at the aforementioned bakery/café, and are now meeting at a restaurant to keep the fire burning over Indian food. Melanie is a retired nurse, and happy to be independent and free of responsibility. “We’re not heroes,” dismisses Melanie, who sees her nursing career as having been just a stressful gig. Alex, in contrast, is a high-school social studies teacher so in love with his job that he has convinced himself that every day is as meaningful as Dead Poets Society. He’s a passionate soul who fixates on something and won’t let it go; he’s an hour late to the second date, blaming it on his obsession over obtaining a certain stapler missing the SKU of the title. (It stands for “Stock Keeping Unit”, which stores use to identify products in their inventory.) He then goes on a tangent about Star Trek (The episode “The Doomsday Machine,” to be appropriately specific), and his quest to discover the identity of the actor who walked in front of Kirk in one pivotal scene. Melanie is life-loving as well, but in a fiercely independent way. She doesn’t see constant companionship as the key to happiness—to her, it’s by and large an obstacle.
“You still need other people,” argues Alex. “But you can’t depend on them for happiness!” Melanie fires back.
She stays polite, but her demeanor begins to indicate that the Paris Baguette encounter should maybe have been a one-and-done. Alex, however, has decided after one date and a half that Melanie is his soul mate.
“You think we share a soul?” she scoffs. “From what I remember, that’s not how reincarnation works!” But Alex is unrelenting—he announces he wants to travel the world with the sudden love of his life, and Melanie recoils in horror; to her, that basically echoes the title of the very first episode of Star Trek: “The Cage”.
While perfectly depicting the clashing of their characters, the actors have tremendous chemistry and make the script sing. Petricha and Rothman are supported by Samiha Ahmed, the waitress who has a god’s eye-view of the quickly crumbling romance. Though things go south fast for Alex and Melanie’s connection, they do so humorously, and the theme of incompatibility lands while never feeling tragic or even at all downbeat; Alex lands on his passionate feet, in a very funny resolution.
Smoking Kills opens to the sounds of the Odd Couple theme, lampshading the relationship between the youthful and exuberant Emily (Julianne Lorndale) and her roommate/landlord, the older, warier Jane (Leia Martin).
An Oklahoma transplant, Emily returns to their NYC apartment gushing over her date with “Harold”, who took her to the exotic Avenue D and then on a romantic trip on the Staten Island Ferry. Emily compares it to Casablanca, which she recently discovered. Jean smells cigarettes on Emily—the extremely potent Marlboro Reds, to be exact—and is disgusted. Emily admits she smoked one of Harold’s ciggies in the heat of the moment, and still has the pack. Jean is triggered due to the 6-pack a day habit she once had as a teen, and warns Emily of the evils of the addiction, and of a lot of other dangers in life that Emily seems blissfully unaware of—such as the antibiotic filled Jumbo Shrimp she consumed at dinner. Jean invokes the “my house, my rules” clause, escalating the confrontation between the two, and leading to an explosive, violent-but-comical climax. As with SKU, a potentially traumatic conclusion is handled humorously, and again with the perfect final moment. Martin and Lorndale realize this modern-day Felix and Oscar beautifully, playing off each other with deftness and expertly serving the witty material.
These two delightful one-acts are a testament to Beriri’s ability to take the sad reality of the failed connections that plague life in the post-pandemic 2020s, and imbue them with a compassionate touch and knowing sense of humor that is refreshing, and somehow even healing.
SKU is directed by Meny Beriro; Smoking Kills is directed by Ginger Kipps. They are featured together at the American Theatre of Actors through December 8, 2024.
High Praise from Jim Catapano for SKYSCRAPER
The Skyscraper Rises Again
The 1960s Broadway Musical Is Gloriously Revived for the First Time.
The determined and spirited Georgina Allerton has two goals—to make her antique shop a success, and to save her Rutherford B. Hayes-era Manhattan brownstone from getting bulldozed in favor of the titular modern marvel. But she’s also a hopeless romantic, and her forays into flights of fancy threaten to impede her success in the real world, in a time when women had to fight to be seen and heard.
Skyscraper is the creation of legends James Van Heusen (music), Sammy Cahn (lyrics), and Peter Stone (book), based on the play Dream Girl by Elmer Rice. Today it is reborn, in its first-ever revival, as a vibrant production that blows welcome fresh air and a dose of cheer into uncertain modern times.
In the role originated by Julie Harris in 1965, Rachel Lauren James shines as Georgina, anchoring the show with a magnetic central performance. The shop owner fights/flirts with contractor Tim Bushman (Travis Murad Leland), who is competing with his brother Bert (Jeff Raab) to see which of the two can persuade Georgina to sell her property to make way for their towering behemoth (and its fittingly garish, pimply design). Tim, who has been spying on Georgina with a telescope (making him “a peeping Tim” as it is noted), takes a genuine liking to her, even as he conspires to cajole her for the sake of business.
Georgina also must battle the common, dismissive perception of her, which is either as “that stupid woman next door” or “the girl with the sensational legs and thighs.” Complicating things further is Georgina’s own vivid imagination, which propels her at inopportune moments to disappear into a dreamworld where she is romanced by her assistant Roger (Brian C. Veith.) “Everyone daydreams, it’s part of the human condition!” protests Georgina, oblivious to how much it is interfering with her life
(“Occasional Flights of Fancy”). The dream sequences are delightful as Georgina conjures up moments and dialogue from Gone with The Wind, and forays into Parisian-style passion.
Katryna Marttala excels as Stanley, tough-talking head of the construction crew, who leads them in singing “Local Four Oh Three.” Adding comic flair are Sydney Michele Castiglione as Georgina’s pestering but well-meaning mother, Shea Pender as her “can’t-be-bothered” father, and Abby Scalici as her “still-single” sister Charlotte.
As crafted by the masters, the songs are expectedly joyful and memorable, and the dance sequences beautifully crafted by director and choreographer Avital Asuleen, and guided by ensemble member Katherine Winter as Dance Captain. (Among the stunning sequences is a winning tap dance number.) “Haute Couture” is a particularly fun set piece, with the guys and gals singing the praises of 60s fashion and flair in their thick NYC accents.
The song and dance sequences, combined with the witty book, perfectly recreate the playful fun of early 60s Broadway while being an overall love letter to the theater and to New York City. The costumes by Michael O’ Herron are suitably bright, from the orange hats of the building construction workers, to the red, pink and green coats, shirts, and dresses of the ensemble at large. The inventive set design by Hannah Tarr beautifully brings it all together.
This newly built Skyscraper is a triumph for the actors and creative team, and it makes for the perfect, refreshing theatrical escape of the season.
Skyscraper is presented at Urban Stages through November 17, 2024.
Jim Catapano explores the 21st Century Dating Scene with his review of “He’s Different”
Love Will Find You
He’s Different Takes a Witty and Insightful Look at Contemporary Dating
“It was just a party…a normal Halloween party, smack in the middle of Bushwick, when everything changed.”
So proclaims Liv, a contemporary dancer, who toasts the holiday with her roommate Naomi as the intriguing tale of He’s Different unfolds.
The two friends watch the costumed revelers, scoping for someone worth flirting with like they’re picking lobsters from a tank. (Their choices this evening include Scooby-Doo and Jeffrey Dahmer.)
“I haven’t had sex in six months!” laments a frustrated Naomi. She is overheard and approached by Hugh, resplendent in a boat captain’s hat, silk red robe, and conspicuously zero pants—the walking example of everything the women don’t want.
Liv is also single and adrift, noting that “most men are trash.” She’s holding out for someone suitably enlightened, feminist—and dare we say, woke. “All these guys are cute, but most of them probably don’t know the difference between Greta Thunberg and Greta Gerwig,” she observes. She points out a new arrival to the party, Travis, as a likely example. “How do I know that he wouldn’t skip our wedding for a football game?”
But then she spies a “Trans Lives Matter” sticker on his water bottle, and it piques her interest. “I got this from a cute little store in Brooklyn, owned by a trans activist,” Travis explains. “They make cute little merch like this to fund gender reassignment surgery for homeless teens.” The cynical Liv wonders if this is just the latest pickup line, but Travis keeps passing her tests, impressing in every way imaginable (Exhibits A-C: He works at a Senior Center, loves the aforementioned Greta Gerwig, and finishes Lynn’s sentences).
Liv is all-in: she grows not only intrigued, but smitten in a way she never thought possible, as her weary skepticism morphs into teenager-like infatuation. “What if he doesn’t text me back?” she whines, followed by a squealed, triumphant “HE TEXTED ME!” when he actually does, under the wary gaze of Naomi. And so the mystery begins—is this guy the real thing or the ultimate poser? Is this “smart and sweet” persona a disguise, no more real than the other costumes at the party? The question sets off a gripping journey, with a very amusing twist, and in the end, a poignant message about where real love can be found.
He’s Different is an insightful treatise on relationships in the here and now—taking a microscope to our desires, insecurities, turn-ons and offs, green flags and dealbreakers. It does so with a sharp, knowing wit that will keep you laughing and nodding in recognition. The sight of the previously grounded and Bechdel-test passing Liv melting into limerent obsession tells a truth about the malleability of the human psyche that is undeniable, and well worth exploring. The actors bring the story to life deftly, creating recognizable archetypes with warmth and humor. It all comes together to make He’s Different an enjoyable and satisfying experience.
He’s Different is written by Arianna Wellmoney. It was showcased at the Chain Theatre in the summer of 2024, as directed by Bradly Valenzuela, with Wellmoney as Liv, Kiamba Doyling as Travis, Megan Catalina as Naomi, and James Nash as Hugh.
Jim Catapano, ZORA, and The Harlem Renaissance
The Life of a Literary Legend
Actor Antonia Badón and Director Greg Freelon join forces to bring us the triumphant Zora!, a new staging of Laurence Holder’s play, realized as a one-woman show. It’s a love letter to not only the brilliant author, folklorist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, but to a pivotal, landmark time in history.
Badón is astonishing as Hurston, “A Genius of the South” as novelist Alice Walker’s epitaph proclaimed. She embodies the author at various stages of her life, growing from a young hopeful to an accomplished elder with stunning realism, changing body language and the pitch of her voice dramatically to fit the time period. Hurston adventures from her home of Eatonville Florida, the first incorporated all-black town in America, winning a scholarship to Barnard college and launching herself into becoming a prominent force in the Harlem Renaissance. The most popular of her novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is published in 1937, and her essays, short stories and plays made her an essential voice in the black community of the time and well beyond.
In between (and often during) Badón’s monologues, a film projection of scenes from the early 20th century accompanies Zora’s story. Vivid images of New York City, and of the great icons of the era (such as Langston Hughes, James Van Der Zee, and Duke Ellington) flash by as we are treated to a soundtrack of the jazz classics of the age. The film interludes, while allowing us to delight in wistful time travel to another era, also allow Badón to change into one of her many fabulous outfits.
Armed with her powerful pen (and typewriter), Hurston’s voice holds tremendous power, brutal honesty, and necessary skepticism and criticism of the norms of the era. “I will jump up to support this democracy as soon as all those Jim Crow laws are gone,” she proclaims. “…But I am not selling out for no cheap, itchy suits!”
The most poignant sequence depicts Hurston as weary and ill in the late 1940s. She has written several acclaimed novels but with little money to show for it; she is now without a publisher but determined to raise her voice up and write again. After looking frail and spent she suddenly rises from her chair, stands up tall, and returns to her typewriter, stoic and strong once more, in a foreshadowing of her enduring legacy.
“Don’t worry about me,” she smiles.” Go down to your neighborhood bookstore. I’ll be there.”
Zora! is at the Sargent Theatre at the American Theater of Actors through Oct. 20, 2024.
Arts Independent 