Friday, April 5th

 Dearest Bit Players Fans,

Spring has sprung at the Firehouse Theater.  The flowers are in bloom, kites are soaring overhead, and there are even bunnies on the Firehouse Theater’s “lawn”.  And with spring comes the promise of new beginnings.  And so, I too am beginning anew in writing this blog.

But before I begin regaling you in the latest Bit Player antics from this past Friday, I want to say that I am continually thankful to the Bit Players.  There are many things that bring pleasure to my life, but none more enjoyable than watching and being a small part of this amazing and award winning troupe of players.  Being a part of this Bit Player family has taught me how to appreciate life and to laugh with abandon.  If you’ve been to any of the Bit Players shows, I’m sure you’ll agree.

And now, on with the show…

Playing for your improv pleasure on Friday were Vlad Tenenbaum, Dylan Eberle, Neal Leaheey, Jim Foley, Patrick Dugan, hosted by Stephanie Conrad, and accompanied by our house band, musicians extraordinaire, Chase Ceglie and Devon Mello.

The Bit Players started the ball rolling with their opening bit “Story, Story, Die”.  In this continued story, about Timothy with his cup in yoga class, Vlad had control.  With a penchant for killing off players who didn’t amuse him, Vlad ‘s fickle finger left only Jim and Dylan remaining to complete this tale of Timothy’s love(lust) for Denise the yoga instructor.  We learn of Timothy’s drooling issue while staring longingly at Denise’s “Downward-dog” firmed ass.  Timothy offered Denise money to realize her dream to reshape the world by blanketing it in yoga mats (bought on Amazon.com without shipping), to get people off their lazy, obese asses  and perform yoga in the streets.

Dylan, Pat and Jim in "Good Cop / Bad Cop"

Another Bit Players signature bit, “Good Cop / Bad Cop” was up next in the set.  In this bit Dylan and Jim were the cops who had to provide the clues to their perpetrator, Patrick.  Through the art of interrogation, Jim and Dylan must lead Patrick to confess to the crime provided by the audience, of killing Donald Trump, with a fencing sword, at the zoo.

Shy Bachelorette, Courtney soon to be married to Donald (not THE Donald – see above) on April 20^th was given a shout out.  The next bit, “Irish Drinking Song” entitled Courtney the Teacher was performed in honor of her upcoming nuptials to Donald.  The Bit Players wish the couple much love and happiness in their future lives together.



Vlad performs "Art Class"



Not many people know this, but Vlad who is an expert in all things physical, was trained in mime by late great Marcel Marceau.  Making use of his amazing skill-set, Vlad wowed the audience with his mime piece “Art Class” bringing ordinary objects, provided through audience suggestions, to life.



The Bit Players perform "Survivor"



The chaotically, funny bit “Survivor” was up next in the rotation. In this bit, the players act out a scene in a location supplied by the audience.  The audience also determined which players were to be voted off (like in the hit TV show) by clapping the loudest for the person to be eliminated.  In this version “At the Coffee Shop”, the players were purged one by one until only Dylan remained to perform all five of the characters created in the original scene (the Barista, the pretentious patron, the waiter, and the two wi-fi stealing freeloaders). Was Dylan up to the challenge?  Oh, yes… The audience thought so!  Watch the clip.  Click here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmJMmakNTq8

Jim, Stephanie and Dylan in "Bartender"

Ending the first set with the ever popular bit, “Bartender” Stephanie and Jim were tonight’s  musical mixologists providing counsel to their patrons who came to the bar pronouncing their audience suggested problems in song, seeking not only a beverage  from their barkeeps, but also some musical advice.  Neal having an issue with a sun  burn was encouraged by Jim to see the bright side of not being on a cruise ship, stuck in the middle of the ocean, and having to poop in a bag.  Pat imparted his quandary of being a school bus driver and out of gas on a school field trip.  Stephanie intoned her response, telling Pat to just let the school children thumb a ride.  With thirty 2^nd graders on the side of the highway “thumbing”, someone is bound to pick them up, right? Closing out the bit, Dylan conveyed his problem of having a man for a wife.  Meeting his wife at the club, “The Hidden Banana” should have been a clue to Dylan of his wife’s true identity.  But Dylan decided that the pros outweighed the cons in this unorthodox relationship as his wife’s desires were similar to his own, not wanting to talk about feelings, and staying up until 4:00am playing Halo…  But… still the problem remained that Dylan’s wife was a dude… who looked like a lady.  Jim’s rejoinder was supportive citing that 50 democrats and 2 republicans defended such a relationship, as well as the Supreme Court’s pending decision that it makes no difference in the dark.

Neal and Jim in "Remake"

In the second set the Bit Players dusted off an oldie but a goodie with “Remake”.  In this bit two of the players perform a scene.  A remake of the scene is performed by two subsequent players told in a different genre.  The scene is performed in a third remake, again, in a different genre.  Pat and Stephanie carried out the first telling of the scene about welders.  Jim and Neal remade it in the style of horror.  Rounding out the bit, Vlad and Dylan performed it as a burlesque version to the delight of the crowd.

Dylan, Pat and Jim perform "Love Song"

Next up was “Love Song”.  In this musical bit, Jim, Pat and Dylan created an improvised love song in tribute to a famous person that was suggested by the audience.  Tonight, our trio professed their love of Martha Stuart, entertaining the crowd with musical pop culture references and factoids about Ms. Stuart’s celebrated life.

One of my personal favorite bits “Radio Show” was up next in the set list.  This bi,  in the style of an old time radio play like The Shadow or The Lone Ranger, from the golden age of radio, Dylan provided the narration.  The theater was plunged into darkness, and the audience had only their audio faculties by which to be entertained in a Bit Player’s original radio show, The Last Munchkin.  Billy, the Munchkin must battle not only the zombies, but must also deal with Jerry, the leader of the mole people and his minions.  Initially, Billy is accepted by the mole people as their prophet, until Demetri, the evil mole person concocted a plan to defeat the mutant zombies on the surface by sacrificing Billy.  The plan, to feed poison to the Billy, and then give Billy up to the zombies who would lick him, and thus, come to their zombie demise was accepted by the entire mole population.  Oh, NO!!!  Would Billy survive this evil plot of Demetri’s?  Find out next time...  On the next installment of… The Last Munchkin!

The Bit Players "Serenade" Maureen

Maureen, celebrating her 38^th birthday with her friends was called to the stage by the Bit Players (and her cousin, Patrick) to acknowledge her special day with a “Serenade” .

As Friday night’s show came to an end, from the audience suggestion of Carnival the Bit Players sang their final bit entitled,  “The Carnival Blues”. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!  (Wednesday, April 10th)

Giggles & Wiggles:  An evening of comedy improv with The Bit Players benefitting the Potter League for Animals

The Bit Plays, RI’s most award-winning comedy troupe, will be performing a benefit show for the Potter League for Animals that will provide plenty of hilarious improv comedy and help out our furry friends.

 The Bit Players, named “Comedy Troupe of the Year” by Motif Magazine and “Best Comedy Night” by The Providence Phoenix, perform to sellout crowds all year long. On Wednesday, April 10th, they will be hosting a special, one-night-only performance at 7:00PM to benefit the Potter League for Animals, a local animal shelter.  Additionally, a “Meet & Greet” with the Potter League’s Staff and shelter animals (if available) from 6:00 – 6:45pm is scheduled prior to the performance.  The Potter League’s staff will be on hand to provide information about the shelter and training programs that they offer.  You may get to meet a few of their shelter pets available for adoption! 

The Bit Players performance and “Meet & Greet” with Potter League staff will be held at the Firehouse Theater, home of The Bit Players. Tickets for the performance are $15 each.  Seventy percent of the proceeds of the show will be given directly to the Potter League for Animals to support their services and programs.  The Firehouse is a BYOB establishment. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages, or The Firehouse Theater also offers soft drinks, water, tea, and hot chocolate included with the price of admission.

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!