|
|
Out To Rocky Point |
|
The current
show at Daydream Theatre Company is an original show
called "Out to Rocky Point', a tribute to the famous
amusement park in Warwick, RI. Lenny Schwartz has done
it again with a cast of 14 performers. He has a deft eye
for comic situations having reviewed two previous
shows, "The December Rabbi" last year and
"Kung-Fu Babies" in 2002. Lenny has written a funny
story for his current show at Daydream Theater Company
which is mixed with reflective moments of the people
that were there that historic day. Lenny was there the
last day the park closed on August 31, 1995 and it made
such an impression on him that he decided to write a
play about it so future audiences can relate to how it
felt to be part of the history of this amusement park
that entertained many generations of people. For those
of you that were there, memories will be stirred by this
show. "Out to Rocky Point" is a coming of age story
about the time in your life when you are forced to think
about your future when you make a lot of decisions. He
infuses the show with high energy and some clever shtick
with pratfalls. Lenny does double duty on this show, not
only being the author but directing the piece, too. He
has written over 20 original plays that have been
performed in many states as well as in New York
City. His riotous script will have you laughing all
night long. As one of his characters says "You have to
experience love even though it isn't returned" explains
how these relationships can be viewed.
Lenny creates a
show about personal relationships and the twists and
turns they take during our lives but he puts a comic
spin on it. It makes you think back to when you were a
teenager. Producer Jim Belanger and Set Designer Lloyd
Felix's hard work to reproduce the nostalgic memories of
the park, splendidly. Trinity Repertory Theatre lent
them some of their set from "The Fantasticks".The
audience walks thru the Arch as they enter the theatre
and are given wristbands to wear just like we did at the
actual Rocky Point. Belanger says "This play will touch
everyone in some way." David Bettencourt, the director
of the first-rate documentary, "You Must be This Tall"
lent the company a car from The Skyliner for the
show. Two characters ride in it which garners many
laughs from the crowd as the car gets stuck in
midair. From the city of Warwick, Lenny obtained a car
from "The House of Horrors". As two characters go
through it, Lenny uses sound affects and special
lighting to recreate the spookiness of the
original. Lenny founded his company 10 years ago and has
been at Bell Street Chapel for the past six years. The
audience leaves the theatre with many happy memories of
Rocky Point and enjoys some outstanding comic acting
from Lenny's performers. It is the time after summer
ends when you must make decisions about the coming of
autumn. The younger members of the audience obtain a
flavor about what Rocky Point was like during this show.
It is a trip down memory lane for those of us of a
certain age.
Not wanting to
spoil the show for the audience, I will only be able to
say who plays certain characters. Playing the mysterious
figure, the Park attendant is Geoff Monti who I directed
in "The Case of the Smoking Gunn" for Whodunnit Mystery
Theatre in 2003. He is a dynamic actor who captures the
essence of this madcap character with a couple of
reflective ones along the way. Lauren Usataszewski who I
reviewed in "Urinetown" and "Blithe Spirit" at URI also
plays a friend of the park attendant. She is also an
intriguing figure and she does a marvelous job as this
sympathetic character. Two best friends who come to the
park on the last day are Jason and Dave. They are played
beautifully by Jim Foley and Sean Carufel who wears a
mullet wig as Dave. They have many comic situations and
one liners that are hysterical. The characters realize
that friendship is an important aspect of their lives.
Dave has a crush on Jason's younger sister, Kelsey
played by Tara Gray. She first appears as a doormat to
Swift who orders her around but she wins the day later
on in the show by her strong will and an admission of
true love. Matt d'Oliviera is a hoot as the cad who
steals 23 girls from Jason and beats him up. Swift takes
them to the forest by the flume. I last reviewed Matt in
"The December Rabbi". Another scene stealing character
is the off center nerdy girl who has a mad crush on
Jason, Zoe. Played splendidly by Kaitlyn Vollucci, she
rants and raves about how she loves him madly. She cries
at the drop of a hat and has many funny scenes including
leading Jason out of the House of Horrors with her
flashlight and opening a banana seductively. Kerri
Montgomery is hilarious as the sexy dumb blonde who
can't remember Jason's name while Briana Butterworth
plays her younger sister, Joanne who wins many laughs as
she explains she is only 14 in one scene. Rounding out
the cast are Stephanie Carey, Sara Bartel, Kat Harvey,
Kathleen Seigriff and Kara Cancelliere as wild and crazy
women at Rocky Point. So for a fantastic trip back to
the fun filled days at this classic landmark, be sure to
run to see this show before it rides out of town.
OUT TO ROCKY POINT (15 April to 1 May, 2010) Daydream Theatre Company, Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell Street, Providence,RI 1(401) 644-2293 or www.smarttix.com
|
