Have you ever experienced something so amazing that you can’t help but share it with your friends or family so they can somehow re-live the experience with you? Recently, I was on a trip to Pennsylvania and I stayed in an economy hotel. Nothing special, just a place to sleep and shower. BUT…. Next door was a little coffee shop, and when I entered its sanctuary, it was as if choirs of angels were singing in my ears! They had over 58 kinds of doughnuts! And for those who came to the Firehouse Theater this weekend, by all accounts from the buzz about The Bit Players after the shows, they too were encountering these “holy grail” moments. ( Maybe not accompanied by the singing choirs of angels that I imagined, but perhaps a better alternative, complemented by our amazing musicians, Devon Mello and Chase Ceglie). And because at the Firehouse, we understand the need to share this miraculous experience with others, we are offering, through the technology of Live Streaming, a way to share these incredible shows live on the internet, as they are happening. How cool to actually watch a Bit Players show live, and also share it with your family and friends who are thousands of miles away?? Yes, we can and are doing just that! Just ask the audience members on Saturday who had relatives watching the same show from Florida and other far-away places.
Now, it you were stunned into an awe-filled stupor by what you saw and want to relive these mind-blowing experiences yet again, here is an attempt with meager vocabulary to describe the indescribable, and capture these remarkable shows in words:
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| Matt, Clayon, Frank, and Stephanie remain in "Story, Story, Die" hosted by Vlad |
To warm things up on Friday night, the Bit Players began with “Story, Story, Die!” In this bit the entire cast ( Matt Lindman, Frank Fusaro, Anna Smith, Clayon McFarlane, and Stephanie Conrad) is on the literal firing line, with Vlad Tenenbaum as the executioner. The story “Bob and his Magical Balloon; in Never-Never Land” suggested by the audience, was the title that the players had to continue telling when Vlad pointed his finger at them. Any hesitation is reason for the executioner to kill them off. In the story, Bob came to Never- Never Land and offered Tinkerbell his balloon as a peace offering. Tinkerbell commented on just how big Bob’s balloon was. Tinkerbell took the offering and unexpectedly began to rise higher and higher until the balloon popped. Tinkerbell was frightened as she began to fall until she remembered she could fly and landed smack dab in a lagoon inhabited by fairy-eating mermaids. Bob rescued Tinkerbell and took her to a cave where he lit candles, offering her wine, and whispered sweet nothings into Tinkerbell’s ear. We can only guess that Tinkerbell was impressed with the size of Bob’s balloon after all!
Stephanie, Clayon, and Anna impressed the audience with their 60’s “Doo Run” song. Particularly impressed and delighted were two members of the audience, Marketing Supervisor (at Newport Grand) Joe , and his companion, Spanish Teacher, Jen. The two were the inspiration of this song all about them.
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| Vlad performs his mime piece, "Good Morning" |
Vlad enchanted the audience with his mime piece “Good Morning”. In this bit, Vlad asked the audience for objects that they would encounter in their everyday morning routines. The crowd really wanted to get their money’s worth out of Vlad with their unusual suggestions of cat food, rocks, diapers, Hot Pockets, glasses, and peppers. Vlad then took all of the suggestions and told a story with his body, interacting with these objects as well as bringing these objects to life. (Click on the link to view - >
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| Frank and Anna in "Genres" |
The scene game, “Genres” performed by Anna and Frank, and hosted by Matt, had the crowd chucking and chortling. The audience provided the genres of movies in which they would like to see a scene enacted. As brother and sister, Frank and Anna had the dilemma of murdering their parents and wondering what to do with the bodies. Matt then changed the scene to a Western genre to which Frank commented that he wanted to camp, not with Anna, but with other men (and maybe some sheep) and then not talk about what happened. Moving into the genre, Religion, Anna added that she and Frank could come clean to God, but not the police about their murdered parents. Matt changed things up again with the genre, Shark Week, which sparked Frank to say that they could dispose of their parents bodies by kicking them overboard, as they reached the coast of South Africa and Seal Island. With that problem solved, Matt altered the scene one last time to the genre of The Walking Dead, to which Frank demanded to know why Anna slept with his best friend, all the while the entire ensemble of players took to the stage as zombies. Here's video that had the audience cheering. ->
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| The Bir Players perform "Serenade" for Bachelorette, Hayley |
In Friday’s second set, bachelorette Hayley, marrying fellow Nebraska Cornhusker and college love, Brian, were the subject s of a “Serenade” song performed by the entire cast of players. Hayley a speech pathologist, and Brian a building engineer were the focus of the song made up entirely about them sung to the tune of the hit song “My Girl”.
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| Stephanie, Clayon, Frank and Matt in "Irish Drinking Song" |
Another member of the audience, high school student, Andrew, celebrating his birthday with the Bit Players was recognized with an “Irish Drinking Song”. When asked what was his secret ambition, Andrew replied “I want to make doughnuts” (side note* Andrew, I recommend going to PA to visit my aforementioned doughnut haven!), the Bit Players composed a song all about Andrew’s future in doughnut making, to the delight of Andrew and the entire audience.
As if on a sugar rush, the energy of the weekend crowds did not diminish for Saturday’s capacity crowd. Some new faces were added to the cast on hand this night. With Vlad hosting, he was joined by Dylan Eberle and John Mulligan while Frank, Matt, Clayon, and Stephanie stayed to play another night.
Since “Story, Story, Die” has been received well, the Bit Players brought it back again. In this improvised story about “Justin and his Top Hat in England” we are taken by the Bit Players to wander the foggy streets of London where Justin encountered Vampires in their lair. Justin is frightened and begins staking the vampires when they steal his hat (because, it seems, that vampires have an affinity for hats, but a weakness when their hats are removed). Justin begins to remove the vampire hats, killing off more vampires in the process, until the vampires confront Justin, telling his that they will not harm him because they are vegetarian vampires and only drink beer blood. Justin is aghast at his own actions and asked what he can do to make amends. (This particular group of vampires is highly motivated to raise money for their own kind and their “Vampires R’ US fund”) The vampires beseech Justin to donate to their fund, but Justin must pay extra since he has already killed off so many vampires.
David, an audience member sitting in the shadows of the theater, who earlier had offered a rather dubious suggestion (of a particular adult toy) was good-naturedly called out by the players to be the subject of a “Doo Run” song. In the song (performed by Matt, John, and Clayon), David, a systems analyst, was affably paid back for his earlier submission.
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| The Bit Players perform "Serenade" for Bachelorette, Page |
Bachelorette, Page, celebrating her upcoming nuptials with her all-girl posse at the rear of the theater, was called to the stage to be “Serenaded” Bit Players style. Page , a marketing major, due to be wed to her Stonehill college sweetheart ,accountant, Michael on September 15th, was the focus of this improvised song all about them.
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| John sings Led Zeppelin in "Telethon" |
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| Clayon sing R Kelly with his all-boy backup dancers in "Telehton" |
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| Dylan goes Grunge in "Telethon" |
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| Matt adds his Hip Hop/Rap syltings in "Telethon" |
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| Frank sings Hip Hop/Rap in "Telethon" |
An audience favorite bit, “Radio Show” related by Dylan, entitled “The Giant Lawn Mower” was brought back into the rotation. As the theater was plunged into darkness, illuminated only by the “On Air” sign, Dylan began his narration with his fellow Bits silhouetted in the darkness, adding their voice-over characters in the mix. In this episode 2 of season 3 on KCYYY radio, Larry meets the Grass Monster on a grassy knoll. The Grass Monster grabs Larry’s ankles exclaiming that he wants Larry’s soul. Confused, Larry contends that his soul is not in his ankles. Initially thwarted the Monster asserted that he had Larry’s girlfriend, Debra held captive in his evil lair. Larry and the Monster agree to reconvene on the grassy knoll to exchange Larry’s soul for Debra. Larry admits he thought that exchanging his soul for Debra was a fair deal to be able to have sex again. In the meantime, Larry secretly meets with a mechanic who he commissions to build a giant lawnmower to destroy the Monster. Larry’s mother soon arrives with cookies to help keep up the strength and endurance of Larry and his mechanic in their quest to build this giant weapon. A Mexican delivery boy also comes to call to offer sustenance, but also wanting to be tipped. At sunrise on the 2nd day Larry strolls out onto the knoll with his spurs jingling (also commissioned by his mechanic). The Monster is met by the giant blades of a Helicopter which also transforms into a Transformer in an epic battle. The audience is left with the questions; Will the epic battle be uploaded to YouTube? Will the Mexican Delivery Boy ever receive a tip? For answers, tune into the next episode of Radio Show.
Here's a special added treat! Watch as John hosts The Bit Players version of the hit TV game show, The Dating Game from Saturday night's show. Guess who Stephanie chooses from her selection of eligible bachelors. Whom would YOU choose?
If you would like more information about The Bit Players shows being streamed live, contact the theatre. We are excited to offer new services to our fans. Stay tuned for more ways that the Bit Players will be employing technology for your enjoyment!
Here's a special added treat! Watch as John hosts The Bit Players version of the hit TV game show, The Dating Game from Saturday night's show. Guess who Stephanie chooses from her selection of eligible bachelors. Whom would YOU choose?
If you would like more information about The Bit Players shows being streamed live, contact the theatre. We are excited to offer new services to our fans. Stay tuned for more ways that the Bit Players will be employing technology for your enjoyment!
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 and information about all of the shows 401-849-FIRE (3473) And it is always BYOB!
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