PHYLLIS BATOR

Cindy Mueller, Steve Johnson, and Leslie Jureit sing the finale.

PHYLLIS BATOR

Cindy Mynhier, Terry Cornett, Debbie Myhnhier worked diligently to put the placards together for the play.

PHYLLIS BATOR

Mueller plays the hooker mom who finds her daughter making out with a boyfriend. Her songs tell the story.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

More Latest Stories

• You Review Food: Reg Valentinuzzi
• You Review Movie: John Augustine
• Rod Mackenzie, taking music by storm

Share and Enjoy [?]

Attending a dress rehearsal for “Relatives and Other Strangers” was very enlightening. There are signs to be made, volume and microphones checked, stage settings, etc. Such was the case Tuesday evening at the Marco Players Theater.

Center Stage Productions in conjunction with the Marco Players have brought a premiere performance with mainly three characters to the theater. Leslie Jureit and Cindy Mueller wrote, directed and produced the play as well as starring in it with fellow actor Steve Johnson. Gary Hixson also plays a small part. .

This musical spoof is all about relationships with — you name it — family, friends, things, various people, and is very original and sometimes very true. The interesting thing is that they take popular songs and change the words to fit the skit. The set is a simple design of pictures of different people, a piano in the corner, a small bar to the right, and chairs that are moved about for the next skit.

Jureit is sensational in her rapid excuse to the audience of not wanting to get married. The music is quick, and Jureit talks just as quickly which is a lot of dialogue to remember. The theme was a wedding scene where she states “I’m not getting married today.” It’s very professionally done. In the meantime, the wedding singer (Mueller) continues singing. The groom is played by Steve Johnson.

After they join the ‘institution of marriage,’ the couple has two children and the relationships of siblings have several skits. As the children argue, Mueller sings. It’s truly funny especially. Just listen to the words.

Then there’s the relationship between parents and children, brothers and sisters, girls and boys, girls and their girlfriends, all done in song with tons of costume changes throughout the play.

Some of the skits included begging parents for a dog with Mueller was dressed as a dog and two children trying to convince their parents to let them keep the dog; telling your kids not to do something; a hooker-type mother who finds her daughter and boyfriend making out; going for a family drive that turns out to be a fiasco; a Bud Allen and Lou Costello skit on a man who wants to buy a computer which is hilarious; Dr. Phil and a relationship with ourselves; and wrinkles sung to “Memories” to name a few. They are all well done not only in design, but each cast member falls into their characters. Just watch their facial expressions.

Another funny skit was a hospital announcer calling Dr. Scholl to podiatry, Dr. Seuss to pediatrics, Nurse Ratchett to the psychiatric ward, and I won’t tell you the next one, but it is a hoot. Mueller then came out as an old lady with a walker and sings “Supercalifragilisticexpialidosious” but her words include the doctors she is looking for -— and she has many.

The play includes interaction with the audience. A TV reality show called ”The Amazing Race on Marco” has two teams who will be from the audience and must carry a turtle egg in and around several areas. The winners get a prize but I won’t tell you what.

What would our lives be without relationships? No doubt one of these skits will hit home. It certainly did for me.

Lucille Gaita and Jamie are the pianists that will play the piano for the show.

---

The musical is presented Wednesday through Saturdays from Jan. 16 through Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20. For reservations, call 642-7270.