Due to sell-out crowds and because demand for more improv funny has dictated the need, the Bit Players have added a late night 10pm slot to their Saturday night performance schedule. So those of you who have missed out in the past because the Saturday night 8:00pm show was full, you now have another option to see this award winning troupe in action!!!
Playing for Saturday’s 8:00pm crowd were Vlad Tenenbaum, Anna Smith, Clayon McFarlane, Jessica Bradley, Lobo Linhares, hosted by Frank Fusaro, and rounding out the cast with his musical skills, our long lost musician and sailor, Chuck Malone.
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| The Bit Players perform "Story, Story, Die!" |
The Bit Players started the house rockin’ with their opening bit “Story, Story, Die”. In the telling of the story, the Bit Players, under direction of Vlad ‘s fickle finger, must seamlessly continue the same story where the last player left off. Should the story NOT be to Vlad’s liking, he can “kill off” whomever his cold Russian heart desires. Tonight, in a story about Kenny at the Laundromat with his sickle (familiar to Vlad’s terminology), we listened as Kenny navigated his way through Mother Russia (again, agreeable to Vlad) trying to get his sickled cleaned. However, all of these references to Russia did not stop Vlad from killing off players. Only Frank and Anna remained to end the tale of how Kenny finally made it out of Russia.
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| Frank, Clayon, and Anna in "Good Cop / Bad Cop" |
Another crowd pleasing bit, “Good Cop / Bad Cop” was up next in the rotation . In this bit Frank and Anna provided the necessary clues to their perpetrator, Clayon. By way of interrogation, Frank and Anna led Clayon down an absurd and winding path of references to get Clayon to confess to the crime provided by the audience, of killing Ellen Degeneres, with a thumb-drive, in an audience member’s bed.
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| Frank, Clayon, and Jessica in "That Sounds Like A Song" |
With inspiration from an audience suggested problem of Car Trouble, Frank, Jessica, and Clayon had the audience in stitches in the bit “That Sounds Like A Song”. Click here to watch this hilarious video. ->
In the bit “Director”, aptly named, with Frank serving as the show’s director, Anna, Lobo, and Clayon were the actors in this new play “The Instigator” soon to be appearing on Broadway (or at least the Firehouse Theater- which IS JUST Off-Broadway). The actors inspired by title of the play, acted out a scene. After each take, Frank offered notes on the scene and changed things up.  |
| Lobo, Clayon, Frank, and Anna in "Director" |
From Anna acting as Dora the Explorer and Clayon and Lobo as Popes in a western style genre, to Clayon becoming more like Marilyn Monroe, Anna as Tom Brady, and Lobo impersonating John Cusack, the crowd was roaring. Finally fed up, Frank fired ( alliteration unintentional ) all of the actors and hired janitor, Vlad, to play all of the roles performed as a silent film. Vlad, being Vlad, amazed the crowd as usual, in his physical portrayal of the scene.
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| Frank, Vlad, Jessica, and Anna in "Bartender" |
The first set ended with the Bit Player’s signature bit, “Bartender”. Behind the bar, serving as musical counselors were Frank and Vlad. Tonight’s patrons, Lobo, Anna/ Jessica, and Clayon came to the bar with their audience suggested problems, pronouncing them in song, seeking some musical advice from their barkeeps. Lobo had his cell phone die, and complained about how this technological nightmare was causing him not to be able to buy drugs. Frank offered Lobo advice to go back to using a Nokia. Not only would his cell phone hold a charge for 800 hours, Lobo could also enjoy playing the game “Snake” on his new/old phone. The audience was not kind in their problem suggestion for Anna and Jessica. Having to play conjoined twins with eczema may have limited their mobility a bit but not their ability to make the audience giggle with glee at their predicament. Vlad added assistance instructing Anna and Jessica to add a little lotion and get a cat who could use their bodies as his scratching post. Lastly, a Botswanian Clayon rounded out the bit with his issue of hunger. Frank, added his two-cents worth of guidance. Frank told Clayon that even if he and Vlad gave him some food it would only solve his problem for a short term. For a more long-term solution, Frank advised Clayon to contact Angelina Joli. (After all she’s helped his people in the past.)
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| Audience member, Wendy is "Serenaded" by The Bit Players |
In the second set the Bit Players were on fire. The audience loved every minute of the entertainment on the stage. To get the audience even more involved in the fun, Wendy, celebrating her birthday, was called to the stage to be “Serenaded” by The Bit Players. Although Wendy came to the Firehouse Theater with the Fusaro Clan taking up the back of the theater, Frank admitted that he did not know Wendy. The Bit Players had a little fun with Wendy and their improvised song made for her in tribute to her birthday.
“Ding” was up next in the rotation and Frank and Anna were once again at the mercy of Vlad. In this scene-game Vlad could change any of the dialog simply by “buzzing in”. The actor then , at that point, had to come up with new dialog. Vlad could continue to buzz until he accepted the new dialog with a “ding” and that dialog became the new reality within the scene. Watch the crazy antics of Frank and Anna as a college professor and former student. Clink the link here ->
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| The Bit Players perform "The Blues |
As is their custom, the Bit Player’s ended their 8:00pm show with a Blues Song about an audience inspired topic. Tonight’s suggestion: “The Endless Winter Blues”
The audience for the 10pm show was a little lighter than the packed house at the 8:00pm performance. But that certainly didn’t mean that they were any less lively.
On tap to play for Saturday’s 10:00pm crowd were Frank Fusaro, Anna Smith, Jessica Bradley, Patrick Dugan, Kevin Killavey, hosted by Vlad Tenenbaum, and once again tickling the ivories for the musical backdrop of the show, Chuck Malone.
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| Anna, Kevin, and Jessica sing "Doo Run" |
Since I all too often write about “Story Story Die” and “Good Cop / Bad Cop” (although both bits were stellar tonight as usual), I’ll skip down to the third bit of the set “Doo Run” which is often excluded (because it would seem silly to sing a capella when the Bit Players have such amazing musicians backing them up). However, tonight, the Bit Players decided to dust it off for old time’s sake and allow Kevin (who is a tremendously talented singer) Jessica and Anna to perform “Doo Run”, this oldie but goodie about Jay the Air Conditioning Technician
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| Jessica, Frank, Kevin, and Chuck in "Revolver" |
All warmed up vocally, the Bits plowed full-steam ahead with “Revolver”… Chuck even got into the act, (alongside Frank, Jessica, and Kevin), coming out from behind his keyboards and doing a little of his own improvising.
Patrick wanted to join in the fray, accompanied by Frank and Kevin, in the next bit, “That Sounds Like A Song”. As the name implies it is another musical bit. In this musical scene inspired by the audience’s suggestion “Super Bowl Party” each of our actors must break into song whenever they are prompted to by Vlad.
Kevin started the musical escapades in his song, “My Mom Makes Good Nachos”, followed by Patrick’s ditty, “Someone We’ve Become Close To”, followed by Frank’s poignant song, “I Want To Marry Your Grandmother”. This is just too delicious to write about. Click here to watch this trio belt their hearts out for your amusement. ->
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| Kevin, Pat, and Frank in "That Sounds Like A Song" |
This next bit, “Survivor” was by far one for the history books on funny. In this scene about a Barn, watch this bizarre story and try to stay focused on the characters and all of their actions with the players that live to SURVIVE the carnage. Click the link to view the video -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nn42nwjjEc&feature=youtu.be
Fittingly for the month of April the audience suggested as a topic, Income Tax, as the inspiration for the Bit Player’s show ending piece, “The Income Tax Blues”.
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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