With the aftermath of Super-Storm Sandy and with elections being held this week, where serious and critical matters are at the forefront of our thoughts, what better remedy from the weight of these somber issues plaguing our minds than to laugh at the frivolous antics of the Bit Players and escape reality for a little while?
The low pressure system surrounding the barometer of Friday night’s crowd quickly rose as The Bit Players gained speed and took the stage by storm. Our Bit Players storm chasers for Friday were Frank Fusaro, Neal Leaheey, Patrick Duggan, Vlad Tenenbaum, under the watchful eye of host, Matt Lindman.
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| Matt Lindman, Patrick Duggan, Neal Leaheey and Frank Fusaro in "Story, Story, Die!" hosted by Vlad Tenenbaum |
The thunder clouds were forming in a bit called “Story, Story, Die!” In this bit, all of the players were called to the stage to tell a collective story. Directed by Frank, a player spoke when pointed to. Frank conducted the story with his finger. Where one player left off in the story, the next player continued. If not, that player met his end, and died a painful death at the hands of Frank. The audience provided the inspiration for the story of Jackie and her needle in prison. In Jackie’s attempt to break free of her prison confines by stabbing all of the prison guard with her needle, she meets Morgan Freeman who doesn’t want to help her escape because he is still waiting for Andy . There is no “Redemption” in this story!
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| Neal Leaheey, Patrick Duggan, and Frank Fusaro perform "Doo Run" |
Audience members, mother Grace and her daughter Christina the finance counselor were pleasantly surprised by Neal, Patrick, and Frank who performed a “Doo Run” song for them. In the improvised song, the players used the adjectives provided as Christina described her mother has fantastic and beautiful, and Grace described Christina as loving and awesome.
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| Matt Lindman and Vlad Tenenbaum in "Location, Career, Death!" |
In the next bit, Matt and Vlad took on “Location, Career, Death!” In this bit with Matt out of the room, Vlad received suggestions from the audience of a location (the womb), an occupation (Veterinarian), and an object ( an onion). The twist in this bit was that Vlad could not speak and conveyed all of the suggestions to Matt only through the use of mime. When Matt thought he understands each item he clapped, and Vlad moved on to the next. On the final object, when Matt understood what it was, he “killed” Vlad with it. In the end we found out just how good our players could “talk” with their bodies.
Much like in the hit TV show “Survivor” players were voted off the “island”. But in this Bit Player’s version, the audience voted off the player that they no longer wanted to see in the scene with the remaining players having to pick up the void left by the player(s) voted out. The setting for the scene was a High School Dance. The audience witnessed Neal’s well-endowed flirtations, Frank’s bothersome chaperone, Patrick’s juvenile drinker, and Vlad’s lovable disco dancing character. In the end, Vlad was the sole-Survivor! (Watch the video to see Vlad take on ALL of the roles himself –
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| Neal Leaheey and Frank Fusaro as "Bartenders" with Vlad Tenenbaum, Patrick Duggan and Matt Lindman as patrons. |
Frank and Neal took up residence behind the bar in The Bit Player’s signature piece, “Bartender”. In this bit, players come to the bar with unique problems given to them by the audience. But the players don’t just tell the bartenders their problems. That would be too easy! They sing them. Being dutiful bartenders, Frank and Neal provide advice back to their wayward patrons also in song. Tonight, Vlad’s problem was that he had “Powerballs” and no one would compete with him, Patrick had been rejected from his colleges of choice, and Matt “ took Jobs offshore”.
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| Poppy is "Serenaded" by The Bit Players |
Long-time Bit Players fan, Poppy, from Jack Wills group, was called to the stage to be “Serenaded” for her Birthday.
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| Neal Leaheey and Matt Lindman as "Puppets" with audience members Heather and Jake |
Audience members, Heather and Jake got a chance to participate in the show as they were called to the stage to assist as puppeteers in a bit called “Puppets”. Heather and Jake put Neal and Matt through their paces, bending and moving them at will in a scene about Yoga Instructors.
The Bit Players finished the night appropriately with a “Blues Song” about the audience suggested topic of, "The Hurricane Prep Blues”
Unlike Friday’s assembly, without an empty seat in the house, the Saturday night crowd did not need any force or fuel to increase pressure. They were fired up, running on full throttle, and ready to explode (especially the eleven young IMP-provisers looking on with approval from the “catwalk” along the left wall of the theater.)
For Saturday’s show Frank took over the hosting duties, and Matt was joined by fellow Bit Players, Jim Foley, Stephanie Conrad, Clayon McFarlane, and Dylan Eberle.
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| Dylan Eberle and Frank Fusaro as cops,with Clayon McFarlane as the perp in "Good Cop / Bad Cop" |
In “Good Cop / Bad Cop”, Frank and Dylan played the cops with Clayon as the perpetrator in this bit. With Clayon out of the room, the audience provided suggestions for a crime committed by our congenial criminal. Frank and Dylan provided clues to Clayon in order for him to confess to killing Judge Judy with a TaeBo DVD in Middle earth.
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| Stephanie Conrad and Matt Lindman are joined by Dylan Eberle and Jim Foley in "Genres" |
In the bit, “Genres”, Stephanie and Matt were actors in a scene about mid-wives. Directed by Frank, the scene continued in the reality established, but was changed by the Director to audience the suggested genres. In Film Noire the actors provide a dark soliloquy introducing the Dolans a couple popping out babies (played by Jim and Dylan) In Sci-Fi Matt attempts to deliver Dylan’s alien baby. Moving to Western, Dylan’s baby was coming out of the womb bearing a six-shooter drawn. In Game of Thrones, several mythical characters from the land of Westeros fought and postured. As the scene changed to “Bad Boys II”, Jim commented “Looks like this shit just got real!” And finally as a Musical, the two mid-wives prevent the erstwhile couple from having any more babies, and finished up with a chorus of “You’re All Tied Up!”
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| The Bit Players sing a "Doo Wop" song |
In the musical bit “Doo Wop” the entire cast professed their love for a night light, with Jim, Stephanie, and Frank, taking solos. But it was Dylan who brought the song home, discarding his nightlight in the finale chorus , no longer needing his nightlight because, “ I Grew the*&^% up!”
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| The Bit Players "Serenade" audience member Nicki |
30 year old Birthday Girl, Nicki, from Queens, NY was brought to the stage to be “Serenaded” by The Bit Players. Nicki, who works for city of NY in Homeless Services, was out celebrating her day with her friends with benefits, companion, and Boston restaurant owner, Monit.
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| Vlad Tenenbaum and Matt Lindman in "Sportscasters" |
“Sportscasters” was up next in the rotation. In this bit, Frank and Dylan acted as announcers for a fictitious Olympic style sporting event. Fellow Bit, Vlad came on stage to join Matt and competed as athletes in “Trash Bag 2012”. In the scene about taking out the trash, our athletes, Raul Rodriguez (Matt) working his way up through the Hefty Division, battled Waste Management boss, Tony (Vlad) from Long Island. Watch this video to witness the hilarity that ensued –
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| The Bit Players perform "Telethon" |
The last bit of the night was “Telethon” . In this fabricated fundraiser for Butchers, the viewers are provided with “entertainment” for the telethon to encourage them to call in with donations. Hosted by Vlad, Clayon took musical genre of R&B. Jim and Stephanie performed a Hall & Oates duet. The finale entertainment included the trio of Matt (Tenacious-D), Frank (Vanilla Ice), and Dylan (The Cranberries) who sang in a “We are the World” overture joined by the entire cast to end the night.
From Birthdays, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties, Anniversaries and even marriage proposals, want to arrange a unique event for someone special? Why not show your love or appreciation for that certain someone, LIVE onstage! Bring your friend or loved one to the Bit Players show, and celebrate in a one-of-a-kind way. Contact the theater for information on how we can help you plan and make your event special!
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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