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Victorian promises crazy fun
YOUNGSTOWN
What happens when American Vaudeville Meets English Music Hall? I guess we’ll have to wait until the Victorian Players’ fundraiser Saturday night to find out. At this one-time-only event, audience participation is not only encouraged but demanded.
Vic stalwart Pam Sacui, who helped spearhead the fundraiser for “the Little Theater that Could,” sat down for a chat recently to discuss vaudeville vs. music hall traditions, as well as the type of entertainment we can expect to see.
Q. What are the major differences between American Vaudeville and English Music Hall?
A. There’s not much of a difference except for the expectations of the audience. American audiences have — or had, since it seems we now live in a more McLuhanesque global village than, say, even 30 years ago — a different point of reference from British audiences, and it’s from there that these particular forms of theater take off. For instance, Cheryl Games has written a very funny skit called “The Zimmerman Family Reunion” in which Tom Smith is playing Bob Dylan and Gerri Sullivan portrays Ethel Merman. An American audience would probably understand the comic juxtaposition of these two personalities quicker than any other audience. That being said, Caty Sacui is slated to perform a Rolf Harris piece (“The Court of King Caractacus”) in the sing-along style of English variety shows.
Q. Who else will be performing?
A. Roz Blystone is singing the Fanny Brice classic “Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long” and Billie Holiday’s torch song, “My Man.” Her husband, Brian, will be performing for the first time on the Vic stage with “Abba Dabba Honeymoon.” Matt Stevens is going to close out the first act with his magic act; Candace DiLullo will present two cat soliloquies; Hunter Thomas is reciting three James Thurber fables; Lisandra Stebner will be singing a piece from “Thoroughly Modern Mille;” and her mom, Cherie (Stebner), is going to camp it up with “Take Back Your Mink.”
Q. How much rehearsal time has everyone had? Or will things be fairly loose and spontaneous?
A. Rehearsals have been pretty discretionary depending upon everyone’s schedules. We started out wanting to do “American Vaudeville Meets English Music Hall,” and we’re ending up with something akin to “The Farndale Ladies Dramatic Society presents ‘The Muppet Show.’” As long as it runs at a nice pace and everyone has stupid, ridiculous fun, I think it should make for a very entertaining night (laughs).
Q. Big surprises are promised for the event. Can you give us a little teaser?
A. No! (laughs) I will say that subtlety is not a part of our vocabulary, though. As our “Boo-Hiss” girls, Miranda and Gillian Canacci are going to encourage audience participation by flashing various signs (“Cheer,” “Gasp,” etc.). Susi Thompson will be in the wings with the standard vaudeville hook to pull off any act that has really hit the wall. And did I mention that we’ll raffle off a custard cream pie for someone to pie-face a cast member of their choice with?