​Popcorn Falls is a whirlwind of a show where two talented actors/athletes become a multitude of distinct and memorable characters trying to save their town from being turned into a sewage treatment plant. It is a remarkable combination of amazement at how Patrick Loos can use his various small props to instantly flip identities, helping/hindering earnest mayor Trundle, (Aral Gribble) in his mission to save the town.

Once the situation is “set” Aral takes on a few more characters, too  — and the logistics and acrobatics earn applause for not only actors but director Dave Davies, and clever playwright James Hindman. 

It’s not all tricks and transformations, there are some sweet, sincere moments with believable characters that tug at our heartstrings — all frantically framed and served up in an amazing juggling act that leaves the audience amazed and tired just from watching. It’s a 90 minute romp, with no intermission. And to think this Saturday night show was the second time they had raced this obstacle course today? My hat is off to these two talented stalwarts.

Popcorn Falls is the perfect summer show, appropriate for older kids and/or the whole family, and short enough that you can “drive off into the sunset” on your way back to Lansing. Williamston Theatre has done it again!

Popcorn Falls continues through July 28
http://www.williamstontheatre.org

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Darllings, you simply must shuffle off to MSU Summer Circle to see this swell show! Dames at Sea is a wonderful spoof of the feel-good musicals of the 30’s just brimming with style and talent, directed by Angie Wendelberger. A cast of six brings the energy of a cast of thousands, singing and dancing their way into our hearts with romance, jealousy, dreams of stardom, and the-show-must-go-on spirit.

DJ Shafer sparkles with youthful exuberance as the aspiring songwriter sailor, “Dick” falling instantly in love with the sweetheart from Centerville, “Ruby” (Jacqueline Lee) an angelic soon-to-be star. Dynamic diva “Mona” (Zaria Aikens) threatens to divide the lovebirds with her seductive star-making powers, and also makes Kevin Craig swoon as “The Captain” — (Kevin is also hilarious as the beleaguered director/producer “Hennessey.”) Darah Donaher is the super trooper “Joan," ever-ready to buck up the crestfallen — and the charming Cameron Michael Chase is her Donald O’Connor-esque sailor love interest, teaming up with DJ on some fun dances. (Thanks to props master Adam Ashlock for mops and umbrellas as dance partners.)

The tap dancing and Busby-Berkeley-inspired choreography was fun — and pretty non-stop as the sweet, campy dialogue bridged quickly from song to song.  (Choreographer Alisa Hauser with assistant Christopher Michael). The small but mighty “orchestra” featured Spencer Eaton on percussion with Music Director Dave Wendelberger and Jeff English on their respective pianos (hilarious when DJ was “playing” piano onstage with dramatic flair.) Cute nostalgic costumes by Chantel Booker added flair and sparkle.


The set design by Bruce Bennett offered an artistically cartoonish battleship backdrop for the first act when they were in the 42nd Street theatre, which came down for act two revealing the battleship/stage. Bruce is also the “missing link” between this production and the first show ever produced at Riverwalk Theatre in 1989, where he also designed the set, on a Riverwalk stage that was barely finished by opening night. On Saturday, June 22 there will be a reunion of that Riverwalk Dames at Sea cast, with a pre-show Q & A. They will join the MSU cast for a rousing finale.

Dames at Sea is the final show of this year’s Summer Circle season, in the outdoor-stage setting behind the MSU Auditorium, on the corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium Road. It continues at 8pm Friday and Saturday and 4pm Sunday. Friday and Saturday will also feature a 10 pm performance of How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them - appropriate for adults only. (Dames at Sea, however, is fun and family friendly for older children.) Come early, bring lawn chairs, maybe a jacket and/or blanket and food. Summer Circle is a 59-year old treat for the Lansing community. http://theatre.msu.edu/index.php/productions/summer-circle-theatre

LCC opened its Summer Stage Under the Stars under the lights of the food-court “commons” in the Gannon Building, since threatening rain sent the threat of mayhem and heroics indoors. The show was a collection of cute what-heroes-do-the-rest-of-the-time scenarios in a double decker dose of superheroes in The Daily Life of Superheroes.

In a tribute to the late Stan Lee, director John Lennox looked for superhero plays, and found “Superheroes” by Ian McWethy, a one-act that inspired a “second act” in somewhat the same mode of interlaced vignettes. The second one-act, “Heroes Disassemble,” was written by Tobin Bates, Daryth Lennox, John Lennox and Harmony Taft. 

It was a full two hours of sketch comedy, with a dose of John Lennox’s well choreographed fights, as we watched a wide variety of superheroes from The Avengers, X-Men, Justice League and more. I found it fun, but I imagine it is a lot more fun to fans of these superhero franchises, which I have seen only in commercials and general pop culture. There were a few kids in the crowd and though it is a little complicated and/or imposing grown-up situations/jokes on the heroes, it is certainly family-friendly and fast moving. 

LCC has cast a company of summer performers for both this and the upcoming Three Fairy Godmothers July 24-28 - directed by Paige Tufford at LCC’s outdoor amphitheater between Dart Auditorium and the Gannon Building if the weather cooperates. It is difficult to praise individuals, since all were playing multiple roles, and some I was seeing for the first time and couldn’t match names with characters — but I did particularly enjoy Edward Heldt, who opened the show, and also Quinn Kelly and Kenneth Glynn. Other company members include Olivia Hines, Kali Langschwager, Daryth Lennox, Will Palmer, Kelly Robinson, Jo Schwitzer, Ian Smith, Rachael Steffens, Brendon Todd, Caleb Tracy, Wyatt Wesley and Joey Wood. (I see that Ken Glynn, Abby “Mufasa” Hill, Tony Nelson and Harmony Taft are “guest performers” which probably means they are not in the Fairy Godmothers show.)

We passed the outdoor stage on the way to Gannon, and the set is very colorful; I hope they get to use it the rest of the weekend! The show continues through Sunday at 7 pm every day.