Dennis Karr

BCP ‘Vultures’ provides haunted hilarity

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By John Lyle Belden

Take one part Agatha Christie, one part “Clue,” and a dash of gay romance, and you get something unique, entertaining, and intriguing: “The Vultures” at Buck Creek Players.

In this 2018 comedy by Mark A. Ridge, directed by Andrew Souders, we spend a dark and stormy night at remote Westmount Manor, where the last remaining relatives of eccentric millionaire Simon West gather to hear the reading of his will, on the 20th anniversary of his death.

The only resident for the last two decades has been cryptic caretaker Talbot (Tiffany Wilson). The attorney, Mr. Cosby (Derek Sumpter), conducts the reading attended by Harrison Blythe (Tony Brazelton), Mary Roberts (Nancy Laudeman), Ashley Hopewood (Cairo Morado), Charles Willard (Scott A. Fleshood), Paul Jones (Jericho Franke), and Hunter West (Zach Bucher). Things get interesting even while these distant relatives gather as Harrison is a famous underwear model, and Ashley is a total ditz. The banter includes a lot of verbal barbs which only get sharper as it turns out only one of them will inherit the West fortune.

The plot thickens further when Rhinehart (Rich Laudeman) arrives from nearby Hillcrest Asylum to alert them that a murderous psychopath has escaped. Someone is not going to live through the night.

Dennis Karr completes the cast as physician Dr. Avery, who lives nearby.

With restless spirits, a missing priceless pocket watch, secret passages, and a shadowy figure, we get a puzzling whodunit as well as laugh-out-loud comedy. In addition, there’s the rekindling of past affections between Hunter and Paul, upping the ante when heroics are called for.

There are excellent performances all around, with Morado doing Generation Z no favors with her charming yet delightfully airheaded turn. Wilson’s never-break dour deadpan delivery is perfect, presenting herself like the sister of Addams Family’s Lurch. Brazelton is brave in his own way, fortunately having worked out enough to display his costuming (or lack thereof).

More creepy than scary, haunted but hilarious, this is an easy outing for your spooky season. However, it’s only available for one more weekend, through Sunday at the Buck Creek Playhouse, 11150 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis (Acton Road exit off I-74). Get info and tickets at buckcreekplayers.com.

Classic Britcom ‘Served’ up hilariously

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

The hit 1970s British sitcom “Are You Being Served?” returns to Buck Creek Players (last seen in 2005) with the marginally competent staff of London’s Grace Brothers department store at your service.

On the fine clothing floor, Mr. Rumbold (Lindy Meyer) and Captain Peacock (Tim Latimer) supervise young Mr. Lucas (Hayden Walker), less-young Mr. Grainger (Tom Smith), and dandy Mr. Humphries (Ben Jones) on the men’s side, with lovely Miss Brahms (Anna Ely) and colorful Mrs. Slocombe (Sharon Winderlich) on the women’s side.

This is not an ordinary day at Grace Brothers, as it prepares to renovate for a storewide celebration of the European Common Market. This crew’s part will be a celebration of German culture and products – little-regarded and cheeky maintenance man Mr. Mash (Patrick Murphy) has found authentic costumes for their presentation. Meanwhile, the company nurse (Ben Poppelwell) is on hand to deliver injections for their travel on a company holiday.

The second act finds our sales staff in sunny Spain, at a resort run by Don Bernardo (Ron Pittman), assisted by Conchita (Maria Manalang). It turns out these are less than ideal accommodations, but after a rather restless night, what more could go wrong?

The cast also includes Nickie Cornett as a Spanish revolutionary, Dennis Karr at his scene-chewing best as passionate rebel leader Cesar (Karr and Cornett also play customers in the first act), and David Shetterly as “Young” Mr. Grace himself.

Written by series creators Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, these stories make full use of the show’s trademark slapstick and double-entendres. Matt Spurlock, in his directing debut, gets splendid timing and execution of all the characters’ quirks and foibles. – For the fans, yes, we do get to hear about Slocombe’s pussy(cat). – The production’s look comes together nicely with sets by John Walker and costumes by Sue Kuenhold.

Funny, silly, a bit nostalgic, and a little naughty, “Are You Being Served?” has one weekend remaining, April 7-10, with tickets selling fast. Get info and tickets at buckcreekplayers.com.

House haunters resist change in BCP comedy

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

“Over My Dead Body,” a one-hour one-act by Jean Blasiar on stage at Buck Creek Players, bears a small resemblance to a present TV series about ghosts taking issue with how the living folk take care of “their” house. Like that show, this play is more charming than chilling, with this story giving emphasis on family and preserving what’s important.

Dearly departed Miranda and Ben Gould (Melissa DeVito and Brad Burns) like to hang out in the rafters of the family home, which daughter-in-law Stella (Tiffany D. Wilson) wants to get rid of. Ben and Miranda’s son Frank (Dennis Karr) doesn’t mind the presence of long-gone relatives and the home’s spooky reputation; he is uncertain about the move – or if the spirits will even allow it. Frank and Stella’s daughter Jessica (Jeanna Little) likes the idea of moving from Pennsylvania to Florida, while son Dylan (Grant Bowen) definitely does not – wielding ghost-hunter gear, he devotedly contacts his grandparents as best he can.  

To make the house salable, Stella calls on medium Horatia (Beth Popplewell) to attempt an exorcism. Miranda counters with intervention by St. Francis of Assisi (Ron Pittman) himself. Mary Miller and Cheryl Croghan hang around as mischievous spirits. Nickie Cornett directs.

The actors playing ghosts are having a ghoulishly good time, especially DeVito in her well-intentioned grandmotherly urge to make things the way she feels they should be. Burns as her husband is taking it easy in the afterlife – sort of a “grateful dead” was my first thought. Karr has Frank share his late father’s let-it-ride attitude, while Wilson and Little have Stella and Jessica working their conflict between the family oddness and the desire to live a more “normal” life. Meanwhile, Bowen plays Dylan as a “buster” on the side of the ghosts. Creepy cuties Miller and Croghan become the literal deux ex machina with a well-timed possession. Popplewell makes Horatia as entertaining as she is incompetent.

And St. Francis would have me remind all that the Gould family “cat” is still missing.

This show is a nice way to start the “spooky season,” especially for families with children, as any scares are “Scooby-Doo” level and at the end the cast come out with their buckets of treats (no tricks!).

Remaining performances are Friday through Sunday, Oct. 7-9, at the Buck Creek Playhouse, 11150 Southeastern Ave. (Acton Road Exit off I-74. Get info and tickets at buckcreekplayers.com.