Reviewed
by Marie J. Kilker
The skits are funnier, the satire
is more pointed, the songs are even better sung than the first version a few
years ago of Laughing Matters. Things that can make life so bad in this country, but especially
Florida and Sarasota, turn up making really good comedy. Opening lyrics of "Comedy
Tonight"
are the sole ones that aren't parodied in dozens of songs that three talented
guys (Stephen Hope,
David Foley, Jr.,
Patrick Frankfort)
and a smashing gal (Jamie Day) Russell-up laughs with as if from the Capitol Steps,
mostly skewering politics. In crayola-bright purple, blue, red, suspendered
shirts or pink dress, with matching sneakers, they never flag emoting or adding
dance to mostly Broadway show tunes they sing in solos to full ensemble. Jim
Prosser on piano, at the side of the small stage playfully lit by Martin
Petlock, seems like a fan.
Some
of the satiric topics are general. Hope nonsense-speaks a pitch for speech
lessons. Frankfort delivers a singing mammogram. His application to nursery
school denied, a supposedly three-year-old Foley sings "Bye, Bye,
Future!"
The guys bemoan ever increasing needs to recall "Food, Poisonous
Food" while
Day leads them in deploring-to the Disney tune of
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" -- a new bacterial "super
streptococcus necrotizing fascilitus" strain. Hitting audience members'
nerves as well as funny bones is a portrayal of a company's convoluted automated
telephone service that finally leads to customer service staffed by employees
with Indian headdress and accents. The company makes American flags.
Sarasota
comes under satiric scrutiny for uncontrolled growth in a skit describing how
to get-following a path made by the razing of landmarks -- to its Historic
Preservation Headquarters, itself ready to be destroyed. With a big brunette
wig, Hope as Katherine Harris, late of congressional and president-making fame,
sings Evita-like, "Don't Cry for Me, Sarasota." In a slinky jacket
Jamie Day suggests Sarasota's current, suspect election supervisor proclaiming
"I'll Be Screwing You" in all the old familiar (polling) places.
National
politics get an appreciable share of the satire. Hilary Clinton shows up like
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz determined to "Follow the Middle of the Road." With Texas accent, Day extols
"Stand By Your Man" -- unless he returns to drinkin'. Two of the guys
represent a couple of gays in the army, told "You'll Have to Serve Your
Country in the Closet." Foley razzes Osama bin Laden as a "Sheik of
Araby." In a ragtop of curls, Frankfort sings from Annie: "Osama,
Tomorrow, Osama, Tomorrow" is only a bomb away! (He also scores as former former
frat boy Bush.) A final medley, from West Side Story, covers immigration woes
("Tonight, Tonight" we'll sneak back in tonight), the obesity
epidemic (Day's "I Feel Skinny"), and a multi-faceted description of
"America."
Clowns
around Sarasota-strategically displayed statues to be sold for a charitable
purpose -- may be disappearing. But the live ones bemoaning "morte de
bozo" currently at FST's cabaret are as well as can be.
Musical
Direction: Michael Hicks. Performers: Jamie Day, Stephen Hope (also
Choreographer), David Foley, Jr., Patrick Frankfort. Costumes & Set:
Marcella Beckworth. Sound: Eric Stahlhammer. Stage Mgr.: Christine Scarfuto.
1-1/2 hr.s with 15 min. intermission.