Have yourself a merry little parody

 

For many a year, the Christmas holidays don’t seem like Christmas without a visit to Ferndale’s Ringwald Theatre, where merry thespians deliver the best presents one could hope for: the gifts of laughter and great memories. But 2020 was beginning to look like anything BUT Christmas when a grinch-like pandemic stormed in and ruined everyone’s plans. Then, as if to double down, things went from bad to worse when The Ringwald announced the doors to its longtime home on Woodward Avenue would be permanently shuttered. So what’s a fella to do to get his holly, jolly holiday fix this year?

Why, log onto the internet, of course! That’s where you’ll find “Have Yourself a MISERY Little Christmas,” the final production staged inside The Ringwald’s 14-year home. And what you’ll discover is a carefully crafted parody of the 1990 thriller based on a Stephen King novel that starred James Caan and Kathy Bates – but with the many unexpected twists, turns and tweaks one has come to expect from the mirth makers at The Ringwald.

In this version, written by Matthew Arrington and Vince Kelley (and unauthorized, as you might imagine), it’s not romance novelist Paul Sheldon who finds himself caught in a blizzard, seriously injured in a car crash, and kept prisoner in the home of nurse Annie Wilkes who claims to be his number one fan. Rather, it’s Santa and Blitzen who crash and Annie Willis who finds them – and, similar to her movie counterpart, her nursing care comes with a price: Santa must rewrite his Naughty and Nice List to her satisfaction. Or else.

Why? All becomes clear as the story proceeds. But I’ll just say this: She ain’t the nice, sweet, innocent fan she appears to be!

If this doesn’t sound like the typical, sappy and uplifting Christmas tale we’ve become accustomed to on the Hallmark Channel, you’re right! Instead, it’s a highly entertaining comedic thriller as only the talented crazies at The Ringwald can do it, and it serves as a memorable way to pay tribute and say goodbye to a beloved performance space.

But more importantly, “Have Yourself a MISERY Little Christmas” is but one example of the battle Metro Detroit’s theater community is fighting to stay alive in the era of COVID-19. With live, in-person performances banned for the foreseeable future, producers and performers are dreaming up new and inventive ways to stay in touch with their patrons and – hopefully – generate much-needed cash to pay the bills that continue to flood their mailboxes.

For some, that meant experimenting with Zoom productions. However, unless high-quality internet connections were used by all participants, these often were disjointed and frustrating to follow. Plus, it’s not easy for actors to create characters and build relationships between and among them when the performers may be thousands of miles apart and technical issues interfere with the flow of the action.

So it was with great relief to see that director Brandy Joe Plambeck and director of photography Jake Turner went a different route and planned their production as a full-blown movie shoot rather than a staged reading or a filmed play. For a low-budget flick, the cinematography and film editing are excellent. And whatever the budget couldn’t pay for, creative replacements were found (such as puppetry and green screens).

The script, which tracks the movie up to a point, is filled with everything The Ringwald is celebrated for. From sharp double-entendres to silly puns, cross dressing to political jabs, they’re all here – mixed with high drama and big laughs throughout. But it’s the performances that make the production especially fun.

Anytime artistic director Joe Bailey and audience-favorite Suzan M. Jacokes appear together on stage, the result is guaranteed to be theatrical magic – and “MISERY” is no different.

Although Bailey’s version of the Jolly Old Elf is definitely “R” rated in this production, it’s a role he could play for the rest of his life, his charm and charisma are THAT convincing. In addition, his dramatic and comedic chops get great workouts, as both his solo moments and when he’s teamed with his greatest nemesis (and biggest fan) are finely executed. (That’s probably not the best word for this, but what the hell; you get the point.)

And if there’s anyone who can switch from naughty to nice and back again in a flash, it’s Jacokes. With great skill and timing, her mood swings as Annie are terrorizing and priceless. (Also priceless is her work with the pig. And no, I’m not name calling here; there really IS a real, live, living and breathing oinker in the movie – and the hungry critter wants as much screen time as he can get.)

Together, the two are a formidable team and an absolute joy to watch.

Even the supporting actors are in on the fun. Dyan Bailey as the sex-driven booze-hound Mrs. Claus provides many of the production’s lighter moments. And Phoenix Eldridge as head-elf and gay heart throb Twinkleberry sets hearts atwitter everywhere he goes in search of Santa. (Even Santa’s missus wants a piece of him!)

And then there’s the delightful Vince Kelley, who triples as costumer designer. It wouldn’t be a Ringwald finale without SOMEONE playing their opposite gender, and few do it better than Kelley. This time he’s a classy Lauren Bacall – yes, THAT Lauren Bacall, because she was in the original movie. She’s in charge of production at Santa’s Workshop, and she’s not happy with her slacker boss this holiday season – and with good reason.

If there’s one thing that’s disappointing, though, it’s this: We don’t get to see Joe Bailey and Jacokes struggle to stay in character when one does something to tickle the other’s funny bone. That’s always a delight and a highlight of any comedy in which these two appear, but here their performances are done “straight.” At least there are outtakes included at the end of the film, but they’re not quite the same as the spontaneity of live theater.

Here’s hoping live theater returns soon, and The Ringwald finds a new home that will allow them to keep making Christmas memories like this for many seasons to come.

(Included with the price of every ticket is “The Ringwald Christmas Cabaret,” a virtual holiday-themed treat that features singers Kryssy Becker, Alisa Marie Chirco, Jordan Gagnon, Dante Hill, Christopher Kamm, Vince Kelley, Richard Payton and Matthew Wallace with accompaniment by Jeremy St. Martin.)


ABOUT THE SHOW: Tickets for “Have Yourself a MISERY Little Christmas” are available at three different giving levels: $20, $50, and $100. Tickets are currently available at theRingwald.com for performances that will stream in December. With every ticket purchased between now and Dec. 31, a link will be sent to enjoy the show. Appropriate safety precautions were observed during the filming of both events.

Can't attend live theater? Then watch 'A Quaran-Teeny Parody' in your own home (and you decide the ticket price)!

As I’ve said (and written) several times over the past two decades, when times get tough, thespians get creative – and that’s certainly been true since the country shut down and theaters went dark.

With their spring seasons cut short and most summer shows canceled, producers were faced with having to figure out ways to meet the unexpected challenges of paying bills and generating revenue with their doors closed. And how do you keep engaged with an audience who can’t come visit you?

One venue, Ferndale’s Ringwald Theatre, decided to address these questions by doing what they do best: make people laugh – but through a series of original short videos rather than a summer season of plays. And they couldn’t have picked a better start for their Summer Shorts than with “The Golden Girls: A Quaran-Teeny Parody,” a follow-up to their smash-hit holiday production, "A Very Golden Girls Christmas!" (It was sold out so often that I never did get to see the show!)

Here’s how The Ringwald describes the video:

Have you wondered what Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia are up to during quarantine? Well, wonder no more because we’ve got the lockdown lowdown! Stream the hilarious Golden Girls short from The Ringwald Theatre featuring the cast from the 2019 smash hit, “A Very Golden Girls Christmas.” Name Your Own Price and watch it today online!

This all-new stay-at-home special, written by Vince Kelley and Matthew Arrington, reunites the main cast of the holiday hit. Andy Fillmore, Christopher Kamm, Richard Payton, and Brandy Joe Plambeck reprise their Golden roles with a special appearance by director Dyan Bailey as Stan.

The Girls discover that February 2020 was a bad time to take separate vacations. Quarantined in locations around the country, they catch up over a Zoom call and share their caustic (and often hilarious) takes on the state of the pandemic. Can cheesecake be far behind?

Of course there’s cheesecake! And after viewing the short film, I’m kicking myself for not begging, cajoling or even grabbing a ticket to the Christmas show from some unsuspecting patron walking up to the theater! (Why? The performances are spot on, I laughed and laughed, and it ended too soon and left me wanting more! What better endorsement can there possibly be?)

So if you’d like to help keep open a Metro Detroit treasure once the country flings open its doors, please consider purchasing a ticket to “The Golden Girls: A Quaran-Teeny Parody” sometime before July 3 (you name the price!) and then watching it in the comfort of your very own home. You’ll be glad you did, and The Ringwald will be very appreciative of your support!

SERIES DETAILS AND HOW TO PURCHASE A TICKET TO WATCH THE SHORT FILM: In response to the COVID-19 crisis and the mandatory temporary shuttering of its space, The Ringwald Theatre takes its gifts to the streaming world with a new summer program: Camp Ringwald presents Summer Shorts. Throughout the summer, a series of short films will be created with access available online. The Summer Shorts program will allow the theatre to maintain a revenue stream while also keeping engaged with its audience. First up: “The Golden Girls: A Quaran-Teeny Parody.” This all-new stay-at-home special is available for purchase NOW through July 3, 2020. Click HERE for tickets and information.

Middle schoolers experience life as they dance their way to womanhood

Ah, the good ol’ days!

It was only a couple of decades ago that I spent a handful of nights twice a year assisting a friend who owned a popular suburban dance studio. It was always on recital nights, and I was stationed in the green room where the young dancers were housed before, during and immediately after each performance. The participants – mostly girls, but sometimes a boy or two would be found in the mix – ranged from the wee little ones to older teens, and it was my job to keep them safe, soothe the lonely and the tearful, and to intervene when a situation required a grownup. It was mostly an easy gig, as the boys would goof around amongst themselves and the girls would self-segregate into various cliques based upon age, dance number and various other criteria (which I often couldn’t figure out). The one commonality among them was this: They generally ignored me unless my services were needed. That allowed me to lurk in the background and absorb the multiple conversations buzzing around me. Most were silly (from a grown-up point of view, of course), while others were what you’d expect from young girls and blossoming teenagers. And, almost on cue, the occasional Mean Girl surfaced to cause momentary mayhem. But as I said, it was an easy and mostly fun gig. (I had more problems with parents than I did with their kids!)

Apparently, however, times have changed – dramatically – as the 13-year-olds in The Ringwald’s current production of “Dance Nation” are nothing like the innocent, sweet-talking girls of yesteryear. But that’s OK, as Clare Barron’s script delivers an innovative mix of warmth, charm and raging hormones – topped off with an appropriate serving of teenage Sturm und Drang, of course – that sheds light on what it’s like for girls to grow up in 21^st-Century America. But be forewarned: She also socks you with a few shocking, “what-the-fuck” moments that will likely cause you to scratch your head and wonder what the hell she was thinking.

Yes, that’s MY kind of theater!

It’s competition time, and under the watchful tutelage of Dance Teacher Pat, a troupe of eight 13-year-olds (seven girls and one boy) are heading toward the first of what they hope will be a string of wins that will lead to the coveted nationals in faraway Tampa, Florida. They have a lot to live up to: A former member was discovered there and went on to dance on Broadway. (Her photo on the wall of the studio is looked upon as if it’s a religious icon.)

With the first stop looming, it’s time to perfect the number they’re taking on the road – and the big question is: Who will play the lead: the uber-talented Amina? Or her best friend, the hard-working Zuzu? And will the choice be good enough to push them all the way to the top?

Trust me: That’s only the skeleton upon which the meat of the play is built. As Barron’s story unfolds, she veers into a series of individual vignettes or monologues in which the dancers share their secrets, fears, hopes, dreams – and even their futures. It’s here that their inner-most selves are stripped down and revealed. And it’s through the girls that we discover the deep and sometimes dark complexities and uncertainties of growing up in modern-day America and navigating life’s minefields on their way to womanhood.

So how can 13 year olds pull this off, you might be wondering? They don’t. (There’s nudity in the play, so that’s a good thing! And lots of words the kids use would have resulted in a soapy mouth washing when I grew up.) Barron’s concept is designed for adults of any age to play the teens. Therefore, director Brandy Joe Plambeck placed three seasoned and formidable veterans into the show who quickly make us forget their age differences. Karen Kron Dickson (who I’d love to see on stage more often) is Vanessa, but after a quick opening scene she quickly morphs into every mom the script requires – and she successfully makes each of them distinct from one other (not an easy task). Melissa Beckwith is Zuzu, always number two but never the queen, with a performance that will tug at your heart. And Linda Rabin Hammell as Maeve, the least talented of the dancers, has a blast reveling in her youth.

Equally up to the challenge is a talented troupe of younger performers, each of whom creates a believable, strong, unique and powerful character. As with their more experienced partners, it takes only minutes to shed any disbelief regarding their ages, and together they work extremely well. Maya Gangadharan, Asia Marie Hicks, Rashna “Rashi” Sarwar, Katy Schoetzow and Matt Wallace deserved all the loud applause they received on opening night.

And then there’s Joel Mitchell as Dance Teacher Pat, a role that proves he really can play just about anything and excel at it – especially characters you’d never envision him tackling.

Choreography by Geri Elise Conner is exactly what one would expect of a middle-school-aged dance troupe of varying skills and talent. Costumes by Vince Kelley help define each character.

If there’s a flaw it’s a minor one with the script: A couple of monologues are a bit too long, with the added time not contributing anything of substance to the character or the story.

But that didn’t stop me from chewing on and mulling over what I’d seen – which is a sign that the playwright, director, actors and technicians all did their jobs extremely well.

And I can’t help but thank my lucky stars that I’m neither a 13-year-old girl nor holding down the fort in a 21^st-century dance studio. I’m not sure I’d survive either!

Dance Nation continues at The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale through March 16. CLICK HERE for complete details!

No psychos at Tipping Point: A night of plain old fun spoofing Hitchcock

Looking for something to do one of these weekends? If so, I highly recommend “The 39 Steps” at Northville’s Tipping Point Theatre. It’s an amazing blend of stagecraft wizardry and top-notch performances by some of the area’s most notable talent.

In this spoof of the Hitchcock classic thriller, four actors recreate the story of a British citizen who finds himself having to prove his innocence after accidentally becoming embroiled in a murderous plot to steal military secrets. Set in the 1930s, no stone is left unturned by producing artistic director James R. Kuhl in wringing every possible laugh out of a project that has more challenges than one would think possible when converting a complicated film masterpiece into a small-cast, noir-ish stage comedy. But I suspect the award-winning filmmaker himself would likely be quite pleased with the creativity Kuhl and his gang put into this endeavor. And rightfully so.

Because I’ve seen other productions of Patrick Barlow’s award-winning script in recent years, I knew what to expect. But I also knew that – with a string of highly successful and entertaining shows under its belt – Tipping Point’s production would be well worth my time. So the allure for me, to be perfectly honest, was the reteaming of audience (and personal) favorites Dave Davies and Wayne David Parker in the demanding roles of pretty much every character in the story – both male and female of varying ages and ethnicities – with but few exceptions. Together, the two have become one of the area’s most legendary comedy duos, and with “The 39 Steps,” they’re given ample opportunities to remind us why. May they bring us laughter and tears of joy for many years to come!

But this is not a two-person show. Aiding with and adding to the mirth and merriment is Andrew Papa as the story’s hero, Richard Hannay. Papa has the uncanny ability to seemingly control every muscle in his face and body in order to create the tightest and most physically expressive characters possible. (I’d gladly pay to watch him portray the superheroes Plastic Man, Elongated Man or Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four in a DC or Marvel movie anytime; he’d be excellent!) And those skills are put to great use in this production. One scene in particular – a train ride with Davies and Parker – is especially noteworthy, as it allows Papa to use every trick and skill at his disposal to create a memorable scene and character.

Not to be outdone, Sayre Fox has the challenge of bringing to life three of the story’s female characters. All are totally different – a femme-fatale Russian secret agent, an innocent British train passenger, and the wife of a Scottish farmer – yet Fox nails them all. Each is distinct; her comic timing and body language are tools she yields with perfection.

Of equal importance is the environment in which these characters live and breathe. Upon entering the theater I was immediately struck by the set, which reminded me of an old-timey, dead-end back alley in a secluded downtown business district where murder and mayhem were on the daily menu, but mixed with the modern-day, metal-infused industrial look that has gained popularity in recent years. Springing from the always-amazing mind of scenic designer Monika Essen, the set is awash in complementary and striking colors by lighting designer Neil Koivu, whose ability to focus your attention where it needs to be (and when) is nothing short of amazing. And when you add the sounds and music provided by Sonja Marquis into the equation (including both before the show and during intermission), the result is a vividly painted world perfectly suited to the story unfolding before you. (Stage manager Stephanie Buck and her assistant Marisa Soto deserve a nod, as well, for keeping the trains running on time and all the appropriate balls in the air.)

One last note: Don’t stay away if you’ve never seen the famous film on which the play is based. While having done so may help you appreciate the “Easter eggs” (or salutes to Hitchcock’s other movies) hidden in the show, they only add to the overall fun rather than take away from the experience. I suspect you’ll catch on, though, once these quick bits begin to pop up!

The 39 Steps continues at Tipping Point Theatre, Northville, through March 8. Click https://www.tippingpointtheatre.com/the-39-steps for more details.