Broadway. When you hear that word, what immediately comes to mind? Bright lights, excitement, and theatrical excellence?
It also means that getting there requires a journey and the expenses attendant to that. So how great it is that we, right in our backyard, have Broadway Playhouse, which recently delighted audiences with its production of “It’s All In An Act.” The ambitious program featured vignettes from three plays interspersed with songs and dances.
The opening number, performed by the entire cast and led by Brady Reeves, was a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful.” The audience was encouraged to join them. This was followed by a soulful rendition of “Georgia on My Mind,” also sung by Brady Reeves.
The stage now became a diner, with a waitress busying herself trying to help a lone male customer. It seems everything he ordered was not available, only weird entrees, for example, pig’s feet and kidneys. Soon, the man is joined by a female friend, and after she tells him about her frustrating day, he proceeds to explain that she is in “The Philadelphia,” a situation where you ask for the opposite of what you really desire. When she catches on, the banter between them and the waitress produces some humorous moments. Of course, apologies were made in advance to any audience members from Philadelphia.
The harassed couple was played by Sandy and Tom Mansfield, and Sharon Voith was the annoyed waitress.
Then, magically, the set changes to an apartment kitchen, replete with a red refrigerator and adjoining dining room. A couple, getting ready to retire for the evening, thinks that God might be coming to their home the next morning for breakfast. Their antics, as they try to find out if that is really going to happen and then their deciding what they would do to entertain him or her, produce some hilarious moments. Cicily and Russ Kaye portrayed the bewildered couple, and Meridith Logan, trying to calm them, was God. Did the toast get burnt when “God Came for Breakfast?” What’s your guess?
After a brief intermission, the set again becomes an apartment living room, with several people around a card table playing poker in the scene from Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple.” Felicia (Felix in the original play) hovers about the table, insisting the drinks be put on coasters. Her frustrated housemate, Olivia (originally Oscar), fusses and fumes along with the other players. Eventually, they all leave, but not before airing their own unique problems.
The housemates, alone, an odd couple indeed, continue their fretting and pouting to the enjoyment of the audience. Ina Kline and Jane Bennett-Bailey played Felicia and Olivia, respectively, with Peter Wuischpard, Russ Kaye, Dave Wesenberg, and Shelley Kline representing the poker players.
Kudos to the set designers, Jeanne Bennett-Bailey, Mark Beauchamp, and Shelley Kline. Ina and Shelley Kline danced “The Tennessee Waltz,” and Carole Beauchamp not only offered up a perky rendition of “My Kind of Town” but also was the program director.
The show closes with the full cast offering a rousing rendition of “Oklahoma.”
Which begs the question, what do Ocala and Oklahoma have in common? Have you got it? They both start with an O and end with an A. So, you won’t want to miss out when “Oklahoma” comes to Ocala in May 2025. It will be a full-scale junior edition production of this historic landmark Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Rehearsals will begin in January 2025.
Information and audition schedules were given out on Thursday, Nov. 14. This is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of something spectacular, regardless of your skill level. For more information, email otowbroadwayplayhouse@gmail.com.
Author: Elaine Morrison, World News Writer
