Family Friendly Show - April 18th 2012

The Bit Players perform "Slide Show" - Welcome to Italy?

It’s Spring Break and we all know what that means…  For parents, it’s a week of pulling one’s hair out and dealing with the kiddies.  And parents, if you hear your kids utter the phrase, “But, there’s nothing to do!” one more time you will scream.  Am I right??  For the kids, the boredom has set in after having mastered every level of the latest “World of Warcraft”, and eaten all of the Bagel Bites and Tostinos…  Thankfully, the Bit Players came to the rescue and provided a brief respite for both parties to enjoy together.

In “Slide Show”  (hosted by Ryan Hartigan and performed by the cast) we all got to take a trip to Italy (from the comforts of the Firehouse Theatre with a nice hot chocolate in hand) where we learned a bit about the Italian culture where the beatings of Borden Patrol Agents and riding them through the Italian countryside are commonplace.  But it is considered bad form should you not offer the agent an ice cream cone, after having ridden on their back.

Fourteen year old, Taylor got a taste of what it would be like to be a veteranarian for a day in “Doo Run Song”.  Stephanie Conrad, Neal Leaheey, and Jim Foley captured the the day perfectly in heartwarming tale of saving a St Bernard dog who went on to rescue people from the snow.  And the recovery of a cat who went on to have a career in cartoons.

Neal Leaheey and Jim Foley in "Alphabetical Shakespeare"
(with Ryan Hartiga as the dead father)

Neal and Jim took on “Alphabetical Shakespeare” where we saw a miserly Jim squandering his money and attempting to toss his brother and mother onto the street for non-payment of the rent.  But instead of becoming redeemed (ala Scrooge’s transformation), Jim transfers his apathetic attitude of humanity onto Neal, as both watch their father die before them, and neither brother is burdened by the loss. (And to add insult to injury, Jim may have accidentally showered his dead father lying prone on the stage, in spittle…  Or was it an accident? Hmmmmmmm)

Neal Leaheey (Student) and Jim Foley (Principal)
in "Late To School" with Vlad Tenenbaum (mime)

“Late to School” saw our naughty student, Neal, try to connive his way out of detention from Principal Jim, with the aid of his friend, Vlad who provided a “likely excuse” for our wayward Neal.  In the scene we heard that Neal’s morning started off with difficulty as there was not electricity in his house, and therefore his alarm clock did not wake him up on time.  But Neal knew the necessity of a nutritious meal before school so he had to stop to make a Beef & Swiss Sandwich.  (Doesn’t everyone eat Beef and Swiss for breakfast?  By then, neal had missed the bus so he was forced to use his pogo stick to get halfway to school.  But his pogo stick broke and with all of the pogo-ing, Neal required an energy boost, so he stopped off at Dunkin’ Donuts for a muffin.  But as all good stories have a happy ending, so too does this, as Neal finally made it to school in helicopter….  And all without detention.

Stephanie Conrad, Neal Leaheey, Vlad Tenenbaum
Jim Foley, and Ryan Hartigan in "Rock Song"

The evening concluded with the whole cast singing a “Rock Song” about a Pineapple.  Click to watch the video --->  http://youtu.be/wyVv3loJVpc

 The Bit Players perform improv comedy every Friday and Saturday night at 8:00pm at the Firehouse Theatre, 4 Equality Park Place (off Broadway), Newport, RI 02840.  Please call the box office for reservations   

     401-849-FIRE (3473) 

And as always, it is BYOB!