REVIEW: The Sunshine Boys--a Bright Delight at Serendipity Playhouse

Willy Clark (Randy Swerdlick) threatens Al Lewis (Boyd Kelly)
in Neil Simon's"The Sunshine Boys." Photo by Ruth Zschomler.

Vaudeville was the Father, and Mother, of many of our showbiz styles and genres today:  Stand-up comedy, skits, improv, musical acts, sit-coms, etc. It was also the birthing place for playwrights, like Neil Simon, who are great writers of gags and one-liners.

But, jumping several years into the future, those grand clowns are almost completely forgotten. Enter the world of The Sunshine Boys, in the guise of a comedy act from that era called Lewis & Clark (images, perhaps, of Laurel & Hardy, Olsen & Johnson or Abbott & Costello).

The Set-up

These “boys” spent over forty years playing the circuits, but are now “retired.” Willy (Randy Swerdlick) is a bitter old man, living alone, not accepting retirement gracefully, having been forced into it when his partner, Al (Boyd Kelly), quit the act some dozen years before. They haven’t spoken since.

Willy’s only contact with the outside world is his hyper, nephew/agent, Ben (Tory Mitchell). Their relationship is (to be nice) guarded. Willy seems to gain real pleasure in needling his nephew, whose only flaw seems to be not knowing he’s playing straight man to a great comic.

Willy (Swerdlick) does some examining of Nurse McIntosh
(Cecelia Harper) in the Dr. sketch. Photo by Ruth Zschomler.

Into this stage of life comes the opportunity to reunite with his old partner for a swan song:  A television revival of some of the old vaudeville acts and comics.  But that means opening old wounds. Al will do it because he has great affection, albeit hidden, for Willy. Willy will do it because he needs the money, but there was never really any joy in it for him. It was just a job. “If I was there to enjoy it, I’d have bought a ticket!”

Like life, nothing is completely resolved but new paths are opened up, different possibilities discovered. With Simon’s script, we are permitted to visit a different era briefly. Although, there are so many one-liners, the real story gets lost at times,  the actors and directors (Tony Broom & Joni Moore) have managed to keep the flow moving swiftly and the characters clearly defined.

For the Doctor’s skit [which the comics do in the second scene of act two] the props could have been larger and more exaggerated, as well as the actors’ actions, makeup and costumes (except for the nurse). They looked too realistic and, from the little I’ve seen from Lucy, Uncle Miltie, Ed Wynn, etc. they were much larger than life in their portrayals and skits.

The Punch Line

Randy Swerdlick as Willy

The three main actors are absolutely super. Mr. Swerdlick, as Clark (a cross between Ed Wynn and Stubby Kaye in looks) handles the role with a real understanding of the character and the era. Even better is Mr. Kelly as Lewis; his long face, pained expressions, nice use of pauses and comic timing are perfect. A real gem of a performance! And Mr. Mitchell as the nephew/agent is “Mr. Hyper” to the extreme. He must have inexhaustible energy and keeps the play moving quickly forward.

I recommend this show as bit of theatre lore, captured, like fireflies in a bottle, to be viewed once more before it fades forever from view.

Boyd Kelly as Al

The Sunshine Boys, by Neil Simon, is playing at the Serendipity Playhouse in downtown Vancouver through October 21. See their website for show dates and times. Go to their website www.serendipityplayers.org for more information on them and the show or call 360-834-3588 for reservations (best get them while you can, as they were almost sold out opening night, and the theatre only has about 40 seats.)

Another recommendation, take the offered pillows as the seats are hard. Enjoy!

WARNING: There are several uses of profanity.

Review by Dennis Sparks. Mr. Sparks was formerly a Portland theatre reviewer for the Vancouver Voice (now defunct), and is currently a free-lance reporter with his own blog site for Portland and Ashland theatre reviews: www.dennissparksreviews.blogspot.com

Photos by Ruth Zschomler for SWWASTAR. 

ARTIST PROFILE: Tony Broom of Vancouver's Serendipity Playhouse

Bringing Up Baby

Tony Broom

Tony Broom and his wife Sandra have no children together, but they have the newest theater child in town. The new Serendipity Playhouse is their baby. Barely a year old, the playhouse, located at 500 Washington Street in Vancouver, is coming of age, experiencing growing pains and about to enter its terrible twos. This toddler will certainly be one to be reckoned with.

And Tony Broom, the company’s artistic director, is no absent parent; he’s got an agenda for rearing the theater on the Vancouver scene. He’s been around the theatrical block a few times with three decades of experience. Though performing from an early age, he’s been involved in drama since high school, active on the Portland theater scene and has been in plays on this side of the river as well.

Broom (right) in "Streetlight."

“Once I started,” said Broom, “I knew it [theater] was where I was supposed to be.”

He’s no talker though, he’s a doer—a man of action. Within months of meeting Sandra they eloped. Even when they were dating she recognized his entrepreneurial and leadership skills and encouraged him to start something of a business venture.

A Star Is Born

After a sort of epiphany, while teaching acting classes for the Vancouver Community Education, he proposed a theater. She said she would get behind that and before you could say “peek-a-boo” it seems Serendipity Playhouse was born.

It was a passion he was meant to pursue. He said, “With the theaters I was working with I could see there was a ceiling…” He had vision beyond what was status quo.

Broom and the playhouse are adding their own spin to the “Northbank Theater District.” For the most part you won’t see them producing the usual presentation of popular, pabulum plays. They are different.

Broom (left) in "Angel Street" (All Photos Provided)

Broom is contemplative and introspective. A thinker. A leader. He’s more about telling stories through characters than he is about telling stories about himself. Nonetheless, he took time to share with me about who he is, what he loves and why he’s doing this theater thing.

While working his full-time day job in inventory control at Freightliner in Portland, the English major (The Evergreen State College) moved from the Rose City to Vancouver in 2009. The playhouse project was begun and, after a little more than a year of preliminary planning and a site search, remodeling ensued and in August of 2011 Serendipity Players mounted their first production at the Minnehaha Grange. The theater opened to a five show season soon after that.

Children of a Lesser God

Broom in "Deathtrap" at Slocum House Theater

Five shows a season, currently directing many of them, he has a distinct vision for growth. “In a perfect world,” he said, “we’ve got a three-year lease…we’d really like to outgrow the space right when the lease is about to expire.” The small theater seats only about 40 patrons and, though it is quite nice, it doesn’t have much backstage either.

He’s optimistic, but he said that “no one goes into this [type of theater project] with the thought of really making money…but in a perfect world I’d be happy to quit my day job and do this full time.”

The 47-year-old said it’s almost a full-time job already. “It will definitely keep us busy in retirement.” And he certainly means “us.” Sandra puts in her fair share. “The amount of work she does is…I don’t want to say ‘backbreaking’, but…” she does all the web work, communications, recruitment and community outreach. The community outreach aspect is part of their mission. 

They want a diverse theater with people of color, the deaf, the blind and the other-wise physically challenged to take part as both patrons and players.

“On a personal level,” he said, “she has a huge amount of faith or belief in my ability…which is to me, well…helpful.”

Broom (left) in "Sylvia" at Serendipity Playhouse.

Broom's favorite “roles” on stage are two: either playing Sidney in Deathtrap at Slocum or as Jack in Angel Street in Portland. The other would be a more personal thing: A post elope party for family and friends when he and Sandra told their story of how they met and ups and downs of their journey together.

He said that came easy for Sandra—who is a story-teller—though difficult for him. He’d rather share through a character than himself.

His worst experience on-stage, he said, “happened at the beginning—probably my second play.” Shortly after a scene’s blackout, after his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out the faces of people he knew. That flustered him and he barely managed to get through the next scene. That, he said, taught him the necessity of focus. He said he had also been in two plays that required him to wear a dress.

He really wants to play George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, but that he didn’t feel like he could audition for the upcoming Clark College show which opens this October due to his load at Serendipity. He also wants to play Oscar in The Odd Couple.

Golden Child

The cast of "Steel Magnolias" at Serendipity Playhouse.
Directed by Tony Broom.

He said the non-profit 501 (C) 3 theater is not just about what he wants to do. He said there is a great team and board of directors in place.

“Artistic Director or not, I didn’t want this to be [not only about] the tastes of one person.” A team makes the selections for each season. They endeavor to be unique. “If the season looks largely interchangeable with Magenta or Slocum there’s really no reason for us to exist.”

“If we’re going to fail I’d rather fail on our own terms artistically rather than mounting a couple of seasons I couldn’t justify,” he added. He and Sandra and the board wish to bring theater alive to new patrons. He said that when they were dating—though Sandra wasn’t really a theater person at the time—they would go to plays and she would see him in plays. She noticed that the audiences were rather homogenous. They hope to integrate and diversify the Vancouver theater scene.

Serendipity opens The Sunshine Boys this fall and will offer Christmas Bells during the holiday season. Though not part of the main stage season, in February they plan to do something that will celebrate Black History Month.

By Gregory E. Zschomler

REVIEW: Serendipity Players Debuts Dezy Walls' "Not the Life I Ordered"

The U.S. debut of Dezy Walls’s one-act musical, “Not the Life I Ordered,” is now playing at Serendipity Theatre, 500 Washington St. in downtown Vancouver, with two alternating casts.

It plays at various times, Thursdays through Saturdays, through September 2. It was first presented in Walls’ home country of Ireland.

The Story

 On the surface, the story is about the explosive relationship of two brothers, Simon (Tony Broom), in his well-ordered upper-crust life, and Jack (Dezy Walls), the black sheep of the family, with nary a pence to his name.

Actress Joni
Moore

A third character, Mary (Joni Moore), is around as a sort of Director/Manager of their environment.

It is the day before Simon’s wedding when Jack appears on his doorstep, needing a place to stay and a friend (and a few pounds wouldn’t hurt, either). Through their spirited spats and suggestive songs, we discover secrets and lies, longings and dreams. In short it is not, as the title aptly suggests, the life they wanted.

The Songs

The songs are simply done, with only a recorded piano for an accompaniment most of the time (it’s very well done, but not credited, probably Walls). The songs, in short, are the heart of the show and very well suited to the subject matter. Be warned, though, if you have a problem with rough language, this is not the show for you.

Dezy Walls (at the bike piano) and Stephanie
Andreus who plays as an alternate to Moore
at select performances. Photos provided.

All the songs are good, but the ones that stood out for me were “The Perfect Song,” “Joe Piano,” “The Stress Management Song” (actual title can’t be printed here), “Do Up Your Necktie and Dance,” “Amanda,” and the theme song for the show, “You Gotta Have a Dream.”

And, unlike some musicals, these songs are actually integrated as part of the storytelling. Absolutely super! You will want to get the CD.

It is not surprising, then, that Dezy Walls is the most watchable of the characters; he seems to fit this persona to a tee. The story is, very probably, personal for him.

Broom is good, too. His silent moment of waiting for his Mum to inspect his bed, will bring a tear to your eye.

And Moore sings and acts fine, but her character seems superfluous to the story.

The Setting

The setting is sparse, akin to a “black box” presentation, in which the story, the actors’ abilities, and the audience’s imagination are all that are needed to create the play. This is very appropriate for this sort of story. The lighting is a bit erratic, though. But the music, as mentioned is very good.

Director/Actor
Tony Broom

The direction, by Tony Broom and Joni Moore, needs to be tighter. Too often the actors seemed to be wandering about the stage without any apparent motivation for it. And the acting could be more focused and specific, not so scattered in their presentation. But, overall, it is a good show and well worth seeing.

 

The Situation

A suggestion regarding the story: I don’t think it needs a play-like setting nor the third character (as mentioned). It seems to me that it would lend itself better to a two-person, Cabaret-style presentation and, thus, would tighten up the story. The songs/lyrics tell the story quite well and, I think, don’t need an actual physical location.

To find out more about this play and Serendipity's season see www.serendipityplayers.org. For tickets call 360-834-3588. To find out more about Dezy Walls go to www.dezywalls.com. A conversation with the playwright is scheduled at their theatre at 8:30 p.m., September 2 and is free to the public. I would encourage you to support this up-and-coming theatre troupe.

Review by Dennis Sparks, a freelance reviewer for this site, also with Uncouvered.com.

Serendipity Players Presents the US Debut of Dezy Walls' "Not the Life I Ordered"

Serendipity Players is proud to present the United States premiere of Dezy Walls' “Not the Life I Ordered” from August 23-September 2, 2012 at Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington Street, Vancouver, Wash.

“Not the Life I Ordered” is the story of two brothers who couldn’t be more different. Both have some struggles and secrets, but the power of family and following your dreams prove stronger than they know.

Artistic Notes

According to artistic director Tony Broom, “This is a bit like a musical Irish Odd Couple, if that makes sense." He said, "This is our second time getting to work with the creator of a play and our first musical. We’re all pretty excited.”

 What about having two different casts? “That was Dezy’s idea and I think it was a good one. You get a different perspective on the characters depending on which show you see.”

Opening night is August 23 at 7 p.m. The production run includes performances at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 24, 25, 31, and September 1, with 7 p.m. only on August 23, 30 and September 2.  

The September 2nd performance is "Pay As You Will" and will be followed by a "Conversation with the Playwright, Cast and Crew," which is free and open to the public. All performances take place at The Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St, Vancouver, Wash.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online at http://serendipityplayers.org or reservations can be made by calling 360-834-3588. Tickets are also available at the door, although reservations are strongly suggested as seating is limited. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.

About the Play and Cast

“Not the Life I Ordered” is a contemporary musical with adult themes and language. The cast includes Stephanie Andreus, Mila Boyd, Joni Moore, Dezy Walls and Tony Broom.

Composer/writer Dezy Walls with
Stephanie Andreus (singing)

Dezy Walls is a musician from Ireland. His musical, "Not the Life I Ordered", debuted there. You can read all about Dezy and this play at www.pianobikekid.com. You would also get a better idea about the language there, as he has posted some links to recordings.

Serendipity Players is a non-equity, semi-professional theater company.

From a Press Release by Serendipity Players.

REVIEW: Serendipity's "Steel Magnolias" a Real Flower

The Cut

The film “Steel Magnolias” was all the rage among women in 1989. It did well financially and featured a stellar ensemble cast. Julia Roberts won a Golden Globe and garnered an Oscar nom for her performance as Shelby. The film was adapted for the screen from the 1987 stage version by the playwright Robert Harling.

Somewhat of a chick flick, I’d never seen the film, nor the stage play up until this week. I watched the movie on Netflix before attending the Serendipity Players production on opening night, June 1. I didn’t like the film so much even though the ensemble cast was magnificent. I found it a downer—a bait and switch which presented itself first as a comedy and then, BAM, a depressing ending.

The play contains the same structure and story, but didn’t seem to manipulate me in the same way or leave me depressed. There wasn’t the feeling of bait and switch; it flowed together more naturally--the play’s dramatic turn didn’t seem quite so jarring. Also, it seems, it is better to be told about what happens outside the salon than to actually see it all (as in the movie). I liked the play very much. It is heartwarming, hilarious and healing.

In a nutshell, the story revolves around a group of female friends who congregate in the local beauty salon. The film introduces many more characters (including men) and locations that only convolute this simple tale of friendship through life’s thick and thin. The story is based on the playwright’s sister and her struggle with diabetes, but it’s much more than that.

The Style and Curl

 Dalene Young, Joni Moore, Alicia Marie Turvin, Emily Wells, and Fayra Teeters

The Serendipity production was marvelous—possibly the best stage performance I have ever seen in Vancouver. The play is a favorite with actresses. [Most plays are quite male-centric and male actors seem to be much harder to come by than the female kind.] And "Steel Magnolias," being such, is rather easy to cast. Much of this stunning cast, however, was, perhaps needlessly, imported from Portland. While I felt it could have been well cast with more local actresses, this ensemble was nearly ideal.

The Serendipity Playhouse is perfect for this kind of play. It is quite intimate (small) and seats only 40 to 50 patrons (depending upon the needs of the staging). There isn’t a bad seat in the house and it is easy to see the actor’s faces. It helped that the play was well lit—the lighting design was even and good overall, hampered only by the LED RGB PARs being too close to the back wall, which gave it an initially distracting luminescent effect.

The unit set was simple and effective and the three “scene changes” were nicely executed. The set wasn’t elaborate, but adequate. Familiar with beauty shops, growing up with my mom being a hairdresser, I did find some lack in the set's dressing. To really "sell" the salon location there needed to be a shampoo sink, a hair dryer and a few electrical hair care appliances. Otherwise, technically, the play was well done, though some of the costumes weren't right for some of the characters some of the time. 

The Gel

It would be hard to match, much less exceed, the stunning performances of Olympia Dukakas, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah and Shirley MaClaine given in the movie and, yet, many in this cast come close.

Jack Wells as Shelby in Steel Magnolias.

The Serendipity show stars Joni Moore as Truvy, Emily Wells as Annelle, Dalene Young as Clairee, Jack Wells as Shelby, Alicia Marie Turvin as M’Lynn and Fayra Teeters as Ouiser (pronounced “wheezer”). This ensemble had true chemistry.

Emily and Jack Wells especially, as well as Young, were marvelous. Perfect! Turvin’s characterization didn’t gel with me, at first, but her performance in Act II, scene two was divine—aptly played grippingly well. (Jack Wells didn't quite sell me on the insulin shock.)


Moore’s performance was really good, though not quite the right bubbly glue that Parton brought to the role. Teeters performance, although amusingly comedic, was too much over the top (melodramatic)—really good, but not matching the natural, realistic performances of the others. Accents were good all around though both Wells' were the best.

Tony Broom, as a guy, must have felt some challenges in directing an entire cast of women—because you’d have to understand them well to bring out the right emotions. It is good he had co-director Sharon Svec. Together they did a wonderful job.

The Comb and Tease

There are many other things to appreciate about this particular production—several lines of dialogue were updated to be more currently relevant and added a nice dimension to the show. A funny bit about Julia Roberts was an especially nice touch. I also found the POV of the production amazing; it was as if the fourth wall was the beauty shop’s mirrors. The characters often spoke to one another by “making eye contact” in these “mirrors.” The radio music and DJ (Gary Corbin) dialogue is perfect—especially the last musical number.

Were there problems? Yes, it was opening night. There was a smattering of little things like a crash in the dark during a scene load and the sound effects computer timing out to the Microsoft tone. These will be fixed. [And would it be that difficult or expensive to use real juice and tomatoes? And the LED PARs shouldn’t be on the dimmer.] The hair styles, I felt, should have been distinctly southern, and they were not.

I have only one real problem with the play (and it has nothing to do with this production): I think the playwright doesn’t like Christians—there are too many slams that did not go unnoticed by me. They aren't terribly mean spirited, but do seem meant to ridicule and undermine. (Okay, I admit, sometimes they are truthful and even funny.)

All in all, the Serendipity production was enjoyable entertainment. Warning: The curtain is at the late hour of 8 p.m. and then runs until nearly 10:45 p.m.

The show continues its run 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 and 2 p.m. Sundays, June 10, 17 and 24. A “pay as you will” production will also be presented Thursday, June 21. All performances take place at The Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver Wash. Tickets are $12 general admission and may be purchased online at www.serendipityplayers.org, or reservations can be made by calling 360-834-3588 . Tickets may also available at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.


Review by Gregory E. Zschomler
Photos and photo show by Ruth Zschomler.

Serendipity Players is proud to present "Steel Magnolias" by Robert Harling from June 1-24, 2012 at Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver, Wash.

Laughter and tears are on display in the lives of six southern women across three generations in Steel Magnolias. Harling’s play finds both the drama and the comedy, while never turning the characters into clichés. Steel Magnolias is a contemporary play with both comic and serious moments. Life’s ups and downs are experienced by a close group of friends at Truvy’s Beauty Shop.

Cast from left: Fayra Teeters, Alicia Turvin, Joni Moore, Emily Wells, 
Dalene Young, Jack Wells (at bottom). Photo provided. 

“This play is a favorite with actresses and we were almost overwhelmed with the response at the auditions," said director Tony Broom. "We were able to cast some extremely talented women from Vancouver and Portland.”  

“The play is a bit different from the movie," he says, "but I think people waiting for their favorite lines won’t be disappointed.” [Editor's Note: I think it is quite different. The play uses a unit set, while the film has multiple locations. Also the six women carry the play, there are no men or other supporting roles as there are in the movie.]

Performances and Tickets

Opening night is June 1 at 8 p.m. The production run includes performances at 8 p.m., June 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. on June 10, 17, and 24. Thursday, June 21, 8 p.m. is a "Pay as You Will" performance. All performances take place at The Serendipity Playhouse, 500 Washington St., Vancouver Wash. Tickets are $12 general admission and may be purchased online at www.serendipityplayers.org, or reservations can be made by calling 360-834-3588. Tickets are also available at the door. Doors open 30 minutes before the performance.

A review and photos will be posted by noon Saturday.