By James V. Ruocco
According to playwright Dennis Reece, the idea for "Bed, Breakfast, and Broadway" sprang from a real-life experience involving his wife, a regional theater and their association with a director who actually owns and operates a cozy bed and breakfast that houses actors-in-residence.
Watching them run lines, slip in and out of character and ready themselves for opening night, Reece (assisted by co-writer Arlen Daleske) thought it would be funny to create a play within a bed and breakfast setting that not only poked fun at theater but gained mileage from unsuspecting visitors who didn't know the actor's rehearsing their lines were actual performers or that one of the guests was actually a Broadway producer scouting talent for an upcoming production.
In typical farce fashion, a newly arrived guest is mistaken for the actual producer while the real producer is forced to assume the guise of a hotel maid.
Who's who? Who's acting?
What's real? What isn't?
Suffice to say, "Bed, Breakfast, and Broadway" - now being showcased at The Arts at Angeloria's - whips up a mouth-watering souffle of giggles, chaos and nuttiness as a cast of nine brings balance and aching ridiculousness to Reece and Daleske's nonstop skewering of the theater world, its actorly populace and its promise of fame and fortune (i.e., overnight stardom) for one lucky individual.
It's corny.
It's dumb.
It's funny.
It's lightweight.
It's over-the-top.
It's community theater send-up with flutter, batter, dry ice and grab.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Staging "Bed, Breakfast, and Broadway," director Ed Rosenblatt is well aware that this two-act comedy has jokes galore, happily mixed with slapstick, lunacy, chaos, mistaken identity and exaggerated physical comedy. As director, his job is to make it erupt hilariously, which he does. And never once run out of stream, another directorial tick which he pulls off swimmingly.
Here, there's lots of ham - cut, diced, sliced and honey-baked - with intentionally cheesy aplomb, mug and egg, twitter and shake and exhausting farcical effect.
The cast, all in sync with Rosenblatt's comic vision, have great fun with both plot and characterization, portraying the hilarious opportunities they are given with rendered mayhem, reaction, amusement and sustained silliness. Each and every one of them are right for their respective roles and the chosen cartwheel of emotions they are asked to portray throughout the two-act comedy.
They are: Kevin Pelkey as John Cunningham, Dave Walton as Pat O'Brien, Kate Simpson as Sally Hendrickson, Suzanne Thorner Robertson as Marge Cunningham, Joe Passaretti as Fred Atkins, Kuhlken Corman as Jack Hudson, Peter Weidt as Bob Oliver, Mary Lou Mao as Olivia O'Brien and Patrick Cassidy as Patrick Olivier Bryant.
This production of "Bed, Breakfast, and Broadway" also comes packaged with a select, hand-picked, dine-in menu of delicious, treats, starters, drinks, desserts and a main course courtesy of Carmela Marie and Tops Market. Patrons move from room to room at the stunning Victorian-fused venue, guided by The Arts at Angeloria's charming, professional and courteous wait staff.
The all-inclusive menu is as follows:
Pre-Show Welcome Course: Mixed field greens with smoked salmon, goat cheese, hard-boiled eggs, baguette toast and tomato/avocado salsa.
Intermission Main Course: Breakfast quiche, spring hash and savory bacon strips.
Post-Show Dessert Course: Waffles with whipped cream and berry medley.
Unlimited Drinks: Virgin mango mimosas, seltzer water, coffee, tea.
There's plenty to feast on and enjoy. Everything is made fresh and the portions at every course are generous, filling and quite pleasing to the palate.
The smoked salmon is foodie delicious and bang-tang savory. The fresh greens salad is absolutely perfect as is the tomato/avocado salsa. The brunch-like quiche will please everyone at the table as will the richly flavored, smokey bacon. The waffle and berry medley is succinct and syrupy and doused with a heap of fresh and tasty whipped cream paired perfectly with your choice of freshly brewed coffee and tea.
There's also a meet-and-greet with the entire cast of "Bed, Breakfast, and Broadway" following the performance.
Thank you so very much, Jim!!
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