Joanne Dodds
PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Call your friends and relatives: The Impossible Players are doing a first-rate, world-class, you-must-not-miss-it play.
The title, "Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," is a turnoff but the play is wonderful.
First of all, it's not a musical. There are a couple of clever, written-for-this-performance lyrics, but that's all. Instead, it is an Agatha Christie-style mystery surrounded by a comedy. Every comic device from slapstick to tricky dialogue is used to perfection.
One of the stars of the performance is the stage design by David Massmann and Tom Massmann. On first glance it looks like a library in an old mansion. The books and chairs are just what you would expect. As the play progresses, you learn differently. Old mansions always have secrets.
The 12-member cast couldn't be better. Each character added a dollop of reality to each scene they were in. Added together, they were a tasty treat indeed. The reluctant hero (Paul Abeyta) early in the play explains to the heroine (Amber Gene Stupnik) that he is a comedian and comedians are not heroes. Naturally, the heroine is beautiful, and not what she claims to be. Together, they lead the others players through a story with more plot changes than a soap opera.
The mansion's hostess and patron of the arts (Mandie Victor) has invited everyone to her mansion on a dark and stormy night, complete with blizzards and lights that go out. She is delightfully batty. Her partner in crime is the Inspector (Dale Tate) who adds a bit of sanity to the crazy cast.
Normally I am not very fond of drunks, but Therese Simony as the tipsy writer was a hoot. She captured the self-absorbed theater personality to a T. Her lines are perfect. When the song writer (Steve Adams) says that he is not imitating Jerome Kern, she clarifies that is true but he is imitating others. She then does a short "who's who" of the 1940s musical comedy theater. Theater buffs will love the "gee I know that" moments throughout the play.
The director (Jeff Garman) had just come from Hollywood where he directed films that everyone claimed to have seen but hadn't. He was just as stuffed up with himself as one would expect.
The maid (Adelita Fierro) was at times charming, at times sexy, and often downright scary. She was a little hard to understand but you got the gist of her dialogue.
Every play has to have a producer (Trish Thompson) and rumor has it that more than one actor has wanted to kill this one -- hint, hint.
To round out the cast there was an Irishman (Jack Passanante, Jr.), whose play credits were mysteriously vague, and two phantoms (Dawn Thompson and Bill Wright).
It must be repeated that everyone made a real contribution to the success of the play.
The real directors of this delightful event were Tom Massmann and Kelley Buck-Adams. Whatever they are doing next, I want to come!
The remaining performances will be at 8 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 26-28. Call 542-6969 for reservations.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Musical Comedy Of Murders Review
John M. Valdez, PPAG Reviewer
Do you remember what you were doing in April 1987? I was in a rush to prepare for my high school graduation. OUCH! Meanwhile “The Musical Comedy of Murders of 1940” was premiering on Broadway in New York. Its author John Bishop directed it. The show is a tribute to the sylish and intricate murder mysteries of the 1940’s. The complex murders that only seem to happen in the dark mansions of rich and important people. Shocking murders, which can be solved only by great men like Sherlock Holmes and Phillip Marlowe.
The Impossible Players continued their 2008 season on Thursday Feb. 19th as it opened its production of this intriguing farce. The sparse but supportive crowd enjoyed the show their enjoyment was helped by the energy and skill of the actors on stage.
The entire play takes place in the Chappaqua, New York Mansion of Ms. Elsa Von Grosseknueten. Acted brilliantly by Mandie Victor. She has invited a group of theatre people to her home in the guise of an audition. Many are connected to a notorious unsolved sling of murders in traveling show called Manhattan Holiday.
While there two murders take place. As the play progresses we learn more and more about the characters each of whom has reason to be the infamous Stage Door Slasher. We are kept on the edge of our seats in wonder till the end of the show.
The cast seemed to have a bit of opening night jitters and for a while it was a struggle to hear some of the dialogue, and the comic timing was a bit off. But all recovered very nicely. As the cast grew more comfortable in their roles the laughter and excitement became stronger.
The standouts in the show were Mandie mentioned above. She took the role of the wealthy patroness with too much time on her hands to heart and shined. Listening to Mr. Jack Passante Jr. playing with a number of accents was a gem. Playing two great theatre clichés of the writers were Therese Simony as Bernice Roth and Steve Adams as Roger Hopewell. Both seemed to relish and enjoy their roles. The major sparkle of the stage last night was Adelita Fierro as Helga. Without giving anything away her range on stage was a joy to watch.
The show can be seen Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28. All show times are 8:00 pm doors will open at 7:30. Tickets are $10 for Adults, $7 for seniors and members of the Military, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the door or call 719-542-6969 to make reservations.
Do you remember what you were doing in April 1987? I was in a rush to prepare for my high school graduation. OUCH! Meanwhile “The Musical Comedy of Murders of 1940” was premiering on Broadway in New York. Its author John Bishop directed it. The show is a tribute to the sylish and intricate murder mysteries of the 1940’s. The complex murders that only seem to happen in the dark mansions of rich and important people. Shocking murders, which can be solved only by great men like Sherlock Holmes and Phillip Marlowe.
The Impossible Players continued their 2008 season on Thursday Feb. 19th as it opened its production of this intriguing farce. The sparse but supportive crowd enjoyed the show their enjoyment was helped by the energy and skill of the actors on stage.
The entire play takes place in the Chappaqua, New York Mansion of Ms. Elsa Von Grosseknueten. Acted brilliantly by Mandie Victor. She has invited a group of theatre people to her home in the guise of an audition. Many are connected to a notorious unsolved sling of murders in traveling show called Manhattan Holiday.
While there two murders take place. As the play progresses we learn more and more about the characters each of whom has reason to be the infamous Stage Door Slasher. We are kept on the edge of our seats in wonder till the end of the show.
The cast seemed to have a bit of opening night jitters and for a while it was a struggle to hear some of the dialogue, and the comic timing was a bit off. But all recovered very nicely. As the cast grew more comfortable in their roles the laughter and excitement became stronger.
The standouts in the show were Mandie mentioned above. She took the role of the wealthy patroness with too much time on her hands to heart and shined. Listening to Mr. Jack Passante Jr. playing with a number of accents was a gem. Playing two great theatre clichés of the writers were Therese Simony as Bernice Roth and Steve Adams as Roger Hopewell. Both seemed to relish and enjoy their roles. The major sparkle of the stage last night was Adelita Fierro as Helga. Without giving anything away her range on stage was a joy to watch.
The show can be seen Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28. All show times are 8:00 pm doors will open at 7:30. Tickets are $10 for Adults, $7 for seniors and members of the Military, and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the door or call 719-542-6969 to make reservations.
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