This show linked the Durang one-acts, “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls”, a spoof on The Glass Menagerie, and “The Actor’s Nightmare” where a hapless stand-in is thrust onstage to perform in an unknown play which morphs from Noel Coward, to Shakespeare, to Beckett with surreal, hilarious liquidity.
Debbie Lundeen was graciously funny as "Amanda Wingvalley", trying to spruce up her son for Feminine Caller “Ginny," deaf-ly played by Taylor Smith. Grant Bueschel was the soul of awkwardness son “Lawrence”, devoted to his collection of glass swizzle sticks. Connor Kelly was the sullen, movie loving brother.
Connor broke out of sullen into a vast and fascinating array of emotions from panic to celebration and pretty much everywhere in between as the Actor (but he’s really an accountant!) In The Actors Nightmare. Connor gets to exercise his impressive mastery of both body and facial expressions - aided and abetted and thwarted and tormented by Stage Manager, Michelle Smith, and role-morphing Maureen Sawdon and Amanda Beuschel (Amanda was particularly adorable in the garbage can scene) Grant Bueschel returned in personas very different from his childish “Lawrence."
Not sure by whom or how the “Twilight Zone” connection was inspired, or who wrote/edited the Rod Serling narrator intros, but they were well played by Frank Boston, and the weirdness was well applied: “There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man … a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination.” ~Rod Serling
This show is very well done and deserves to pack it’s 50-75 max cute little theatre/art gallery. Despite its small “not really a theatre” setting the lighting and sound were excellent. (Tracy Smith.) The gallery also has lots of fun, unusual artwork.
Pre-sale tickets $10 at http://www.AndromedaPlayers.org
or call 269-262-1943
$12 at the door
Windwalker Underground Galleries 125 S. Cochran Ave. Charlotte MI