Producer/Director Dana Applegate created something wonderful with her Food For Thought production held at BCP Theater on April 7 & 8. This totally unique production included tastings of food, wine, music and drama in one of the most creative nights of entertainment we’ve seen. The logistics were difficult, but impeccably carried off by Applegate and her staff of actors and volunteer servers, along with local food purveyors and wine suppliers.
The audience received styrofoam lap trays, napkins and plastic spoons upon their entry into the theater. Four different “tastings” were passed by servers during four different segments of the performance. Food and wine was described by Dana and Pam Pankratz before each tasting, and wines were available for sale or on order. Tastings of food had an Asian flair and included a yummy soup by Souper Pam’s Soups, a Thai chicken dish by Bambu Lampang, an Indian potato dish, a sweet treat by Tammy’s Pies & More. Accompanying wines were carefully selected for each tasting, and included things not normally found in local food stores. After each course, food and wine cups were removed by the servers.
Now you might think this was difficult to carry off, but the spaces between rows were adjusted to give plenty of walk around room without disturbing audience members. A 15 minute intermission gave the audience a chance to visit with the food and wine vendors in the Lobby Lounge, where the BCP Bar offered beverages for sale. The 3 short plays were comedic in nature and very creative.
40 to Life was set in a police station where a woman (Nairn Cutten) was reporting that she was a victim of dashed dreams of romance. The lineup of suspects included all her old boyfriends and eventually the detective in charge of the case (Phyllis McNaughton) handcuffed her to an old flame (Jim Horton). As they struggled to get away from each other, they realized that each other was not so bad after all, and the vignette ended with them reconsidering their desirability as life partners.
40 To Life's Nairn Cutten & Phyllis McNaughton
The second play, and arguably the funniest, was performed by actors playing the parts of different types of suitcases who had been left unclaimed on the conveyor belt at the airport baggage claim area. There was the Samsonite hardsided 2 suiter (Keith Cline), the wanna-be Louie Vitton who turned out to be only a knockoff naugahide (Nairn Cutten), a has-been glamour case (Marni Craig), a street wise cocaine cowboy’s duffle bag (Dana Applegate), an aging Southern Bell who bemoaned her past (Susan Thoms) and the cute, perky new carry on that had been checked into the baggage compartment when her owner bought too much Tia Maria in the duty free shop (Susan Saundercook). The conversation between the “luggage” as they waited for their “legs” to come retrieve them was hysterical.
Emotional Baggage (R-L) Marni Craig, Susan Thoms, Dana Applegate and Susan Saundercook
Singer Yella Werder, accompanied by husband/guitarist Tom Werder (who played the husband in the recently staged Sylvia, directed by Jim Hatch of Chiriqui Players), and drummer Bob Applegate (husband of Producer/Director Dana Applegate), sang the Stevie Nicks hit Landslide and a great rendition of I’m Yours.
Yella Werder singing Landslide
Producer/Director Dana Applegate showed her amazing versatility by vocalizing the torchy and quirky Women, Don’t Advertise Your Man which warned women not to go around bragging about their partners, at the risk of having them snatched away by their friends. Tom Werder and Bob Applegate backed Dana, who was changing hats so frequently and flawlessly, that it was breathtaking. She also crooned a jingle on behalf of each of the food providers at each Tasting.
Dana Applegate Sings "Women, Don't Advertise Your Man"
The third and final vignette, Everything Must Go!, presented two longtime girlfriends who were having a yard sale to get rid of a lifelong collection of psychological “stuff” belonging to one of them (Marni Craig). Her friend (Susan Saundercook) laments getting rid of some of her “old boyfriends”, but agrees to take her “parents” off her hands. A variety of sterotypical buyers to the yard sale (Susan Thoms & Phyllis McNaugton) add to the comedy of the play. The final buyers are the ex-husband and his ‘new’, young wife who begs for the purchase of the ex-spouses’ wedding vows.
Phyllis McNaughton, Susan Thoms & Marni Young at the Phyllis McNaughton, Susan Thoms & Marni Craig at the yard sale
Sound and light was managed by Fene Cartlidge and Marilyn Jenkins, who cut in jazzy music during the food service breaks.
Fene & Marilyn in the Booth
All in all this was a night of total creativity and delight. BCP appreciates Producer/Director Applegate’s use of our Theater. According to Applegate “The BCP Theater is a great venue in which to hold a stage production….the various spaces available accommodated my needs perfectly.”
Bob Applegate, Keith Cline, Susan Saundercook, Marni Craig, Phyllis McNaughton & Susan Thoms take a well deserved bow!
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