Lebanon

‘Mink’ a good fit for Center Stage

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By John Lyle Belden

“Life is too complicated, that’s why I don’t think about it.”

This line by the lead character is the essence of “The Widow in Mink,” a comedy by Carl L. Williams presented by Center Stage Community Theatre in Lebanon.

It has been two weeks since Margaret Osgood (Julie Wallyn) lost her husband, George, in a bird-watching accident, and she is still adjusting to life alone. She gets visits from her niece Julie (Amy Keitt), whose idle-rich boyfriend Roger (Mike Bauerle) tags along, as well as her late husband’s business partner Charlie (Kevin Shadle). She also joined a social group, the Wandering Widows – Diane (Tanya Haas), Betsy (Veronique Duprey), and Jane (Dottie Ostby) – now that she qualifies for membership.

Charlie arrives from the bank with the contents of George’s safety deposit box, including his will. Margaret soon discovers that she has inherited a lot more than a plethora of bird portraits.

Williams once referred to the character of Margaret as “sweetly oblivious;” Wallyn plays her as smarter than she lets on, with enough eccentricity that we laugh more at her situation than at her. Keitt’s sweet Julie, being an investigative reporter, is suspicious enough for the both of them. She has feelings for Roger, but there’s something keeping her from accepting his frustratingly frequent marriage proposals. Bauerle keeps his character easy-going throughout, with a sense that there is more to him than he dares to reveal. Shadle gives Charlie an aw-shucks demeanor that appears to appeal to Margaret – as well as Diane. The trio of Haas, Duprey, and Ostby have fun chemistry akin to the “Golden Girls.”

Jan Jamison directs, as well as designing the set and costumes.

This charming, delightful play shows that getting older doesn’t mean life gets any less interesting – quite the contrary. Sometimes all you need are good friends, and a nice mink coat.  

“The Widow in Mink” runs Friday through Sunday, though Oct. 12, at 604 Powell St., Lebanon. Get info and tickets at centerstagecommunitytheatre.com.

Center Stage ‘Outsider’ shows silly side of politics

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By John Lyle Belden

At times, the difficult part of satirizing today’s political scene is coming up with something nuttier than what is actually happening. Or, in the case of “The Outsider,” the hilarious comedy by Paul Slade Smith, one could premiere a play in 2015 that in some ways appears to come true in the nine years since.

Center Stage Community Theatre in Lebanon now presents “The Outsider,” directed by Matt McKee with Sabrina Lang. The play is set in an American governor’s office – which state is not said directly, but there is an Indiana flag in the corner. Also, party affiliations are never mentioned as absurdity is non-partisan.

With the popular but corrupt Gov. Larry Clarke (and his whole staff) having resigned due to a sex scandal, the top job has fallen to Lieutenant Governor Ned Newley (Matt Spurlock), who, though highly intelligent and an efficient policy wonk, is totally tongue-tied in public and has botched his swearing-in. Note this takes place “today,” with viral videos on YouTube and other sites.

Chief of Staff (and until this day, Newley’s entire staff) Dave Riley (Neil Acton) is beside himself with worry over his boss’s future. His first hire is friend and expert pollster Paige Caldwell (Veronique Duprey), who manages to bring in nationally renowned political advisor Arthur Vance (Larry Adams). Riley also requested a temp to handle administrative duties, resulting in the appearance of Louise “Lulu” Peakes (Kat Krebs), who boasts experience at dozens of firms because she never lasts a day at any of them due to comical cluelessness.

Vance feels inspired by the Newley video showing the new governor apparently unfit for office. “Unqualified is the new qualified,” says this expert on what the voters want. The fact that Gov. Newley is not stupid only complicates things as Vance sets up a TV interview with local reporter Rachel Parsons (Lauren Lotzow), who arrives with surly cameraman A.C. Petersen (Tom Smith). This attempt to keep the Governor dumbed-down takes a bizarre turn when Lulu stumbles into the office, giving Vance a look at what could be the perfect American political candidate.

Whether you think this is other-worldly absurd or an exaggerated look at current events, the play is non-stop funny, like an SNL opening skit in which all the zingers hit. Acton as Riley plays the neurotic nice guy so well Jimmy Stewart would ask for pointers. Duprey has a natural charm that works perfectly here. Adams brings on contagious energy like a 21st-century political P.T. Barnum with the right sets of cards to get anyone saying what the public (or at least a focus group) wants to hear. Lotzow ably embodies a journalist annoyed with what “the media” have become, yet she must go along to keep a job. Smith, who can make a lot of a little role, does quite a bit with the guy who just wants to stay overlooked while he does his necessary thing.

 Spurlock gives in Newley a perfect rendition of a man who was in a dream job (quietly writing good policy that the one who likes being the public face took credit for) suddenly in way over his head with nearly every neurotic trigger tripped. Still, his honesty and sense of duty towards a government he doesn’t see as bad, or a means to power for its own sake, bring him courage to do what’s right.

As Lulu, Krebs is both a charmer and talented at the deceptively difficult job of consistently playing the ditz in a manner that is so entertaining while we nearly hurt ourselves laughing. Her timing and physicality, as well as Acton’s during the fateful TV spot, elevate the hilarity even more.

Like all good satire, there is a point here, but nothing heavy-handed or preachy. If you see any real-world versions of the attitudes or archetypes presented, just keep them in mind come November.

Whether you can use some topical humor or think politics is no laughing matter, just relax and enjoy “The Outsider,” through Oct. 13 at Center Stage, 604 Powell St., Lebanon. Get info and tickets at centerstagecommunitytheatre.com.

Energetic elders ferret out funny business in CSCT’s ‘Follies’

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By Wendy Carson

Welcome to the Pleasant Valley Retirement Home. It’s a typical Monday morning, but nothing here is quite so simple. Thus begins Lebanon’s Center Stage Community Theater’s production of “Senior Follies” by Billy Wayne St. John. While one might assume from the title that this will be a story involving some sort of show or pageant, that is not at all the case. The “follies” here are of the sensibilities of those involved.

We begin with Mildred Rice (Mary Kay Ferguson) and Sara Jane Dinsmore (Cindy Duncan) casually gossiping while putting together a jigsaw puzzle. One of their main issues is with Howard Phelps (Kevin Van Horn) and his constantly overt flirtations, sometimes ending up with bruises from the pinches. Their friend Bernice Thompson (Janie Lank) has promised to have her husband Douglas (Peter Fowle) have a talk with Howard to set him straight.

Mrs. Rivers (Jada Cannell), director of the facility, has brought two new residents for introductions, Sybil Thackery (Jackae Johnson) and her brother Lowell (Scott Post). Of course, Howard homes in on Sybil and their whirlwind romance begins. Lowell seems to favor Iris Cunningham (Teresa Dittemore) but her overdose of diuretics is playing havoc with their time together.

We quickly find out that the Thackerys are not at all what they seem and have nefarious plans for Howard and Iris. Mildred, Sara Jane, and Bernice are wary of the newcomers and their rapid romancing of their friends. Needless to say, things drama keeps swinging around as often as the two peacocks on the mantle which everyone seems to need to rearrange.

While the plot may seem rather straightforward, the dialogue is where this show truly shines. The quips throughout are absolutely hilarious. My particular favorites were the reference to a couple of the residents skinny dipping in the hot tub as “Rub-a-dub-dub, two nudes in a tub” and Howard’s lack of understanding of why the Thompsons would have a pair of handcuffs in their room.

Director Richelle Lutz does a great job of keeping the drama and the comedy at a tight balance so that the show keeps itself only very slightly self-aware. Being a small theater, makeup and costumes mainly fall to each of the actors, however, whomever came up with the design for Mildred’s makeover in act two should win an award for effects.

John and I thank Lutz for inviting us out to Lebanon to see this on its sold-out closing night. CSCT next presents “An Evening of Culture,” May 3-19 in their cozy confines at 604 Powell St. Get information and tickets at centerstagecommunitytheatre.com or follow on Facebook.

Spend a holiday with this “Nice Family”

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By John Lyle Belden

We extend our sincere thanks to Richelle Lutz for bringing us up the road to Center Stage Community Theatre in Lebanon for the holiday treat she directs and has a role in, “A Nice Family Christmas,” by Phil Olson.

While a sequel of sorts to Olson’s “Nice Family Gathering,” it takes place a few years later and there’s no need to have seen the antics of the earlier play to get into the dysfunction of the Lundeen family of Minneapolis. Being Minnesota Lutherans, they aren’t big on expressions of affection, and post-Covid avoidance of hugging or other contact come naturally to everyone.

Mom Helen (Melinda McGinnis) was hoping for, as the title says, a nice holiday, but that gets difficult with the arrival of her mother, saucy Grandma Clara (Lutz), from her retirement village of Sun City, Fla., where she’s run out of old men to hook up with. Middle child Carl (Frankie Gross), a journalist, arrives with an ulterior motive – his editor at the paper wants a “family Christmas” story from him. Younger sibling Stacy (Meredith Mitchell) arrives next, but without her girlfriend/fiancé, who is at her parents’ home, planning to come out to them. Grandma is still adjusting to Stacy’s sexuality (“In my day, we didn’t have gays…”). Mom’s eldest and favorite, Michael (Aaron Moon), arrives and it is soon revealed that he and his wife, Jill (Jada Cannelle), have separated – but she appears anyway, wildly hormonally emotional from their efforts to conceive a child. Another surprise is Uncle Bob (Richard Steinberg), who shows up with a big smile and a half empty whiskey bottle (“You can’t spell BYOB without BOB!”).

In an effort to rein in all the chaos, Mom proposes a game: A grand prize will go to the one who best fulfills the two rules – 1. Be good. 2. Do something unselfish for another. This will prove to be a harder contest to win than you’d think.

Issues abound with this bunch, from relationship troubles to expensive Star Trek plates, to hidden medical diagnoses, to the fate of Mr. Peepers, the gerbil. And, as always, this family’s difficulty in saying “The ‘L’ Word.” (The one that rhymes with “dove.”) While the content, especially when Grandma waxes nostalgic about randy adventures, can get a bit mature, this clan are masters of profanity-free euphemisms – “Oh, for priced cakes!” – so consider this a PG-13 show.

Punch lines come frequent and fast with hilarious familial barbs in all directions, though you can tell they all truly care for each other. The cast maintain great family chemistry that has me glad Encore has an ensemble award.  

One weekend remains, Friday through Sunday, Dec. 15-17, at 604 Powell St., Lebanon. Get info and tickets at centerstagecommunitytheatre.com.