Stage Left Players again answer the ‘Jingle’ bell
By Eric McCrea
LISBON
The diner staff is back with Stage Left Players’ newest incarnation of its ’50s-era “Jingle” saga, and this time it’s a prequel.
“Just Jingle,” which opened Saturday, is the latest chapter in the adventures of diner owners Dave and Dee Dee and their harmonious staff and patrons.
Using hits from the ’50s, with some new lyrics, “Jingle” begins with the song-and-dance locals performing a variety of classic standards. In the first act, we meet these Lisbon celebrities, starting with diner owners Dave, played by Vince Ward, and Dee Dee, played by Kari Lankford. We also meet the diner’s kiss-my-grits contribution, Mona, played by Kandy Cleland. We learn early that Patty, played by Niki Slaven, has recently lost the title of Applebutter Queen, but with the support of her co-worker Angie (Bethany Kholos), things will be just fine. Luckily, the diner heir apparent Corky (Jacob Nash) and his cousin Sparky (Ryan Stewart) are around to keep things from getting too serious. Once the first act wraps up, the show has taken on a real direction, leading to intrigue and suspicion.
One early standout is Ryan Stewart as the head-gear burdened Sparky, who mumbles most of his lines to the point of needing a translator. This difficult task was pulled off with ease by the young actor, and his timing with physical comedy is on par.
If there’s one word to describe Dave Bedell as bus driver Bob, it would be zany. His antics are impossible to ignore and he makes the entire show mirthful.
Countering Bedell’s laid-back charisma is Bill Finley’s uptight cantankerousness. Finley has a classic Hollywood style that can take him from lecherous rake to charming leading man in the span of a single line. His talents are put to good use in the role of the ill-fated Lyle Pickering.
Playing the village battle-axe and old-fashioned fuddy-duddy is Patti L’Italien as Margaret Pickering. She intimidates actors and audience alike with her fierce “follow the rules” persona. She gives the entire production structure and stability.
John Diddle filled the role of Deputy Doolittle with noticeable ease on stage. Though not the most experienced on stage, it’s clear he belongs there. The arrival of his character sparks a shift in the story, and makes it purely entertaining.
While the first act seems to bounce from one song to the next, without setting up much more than character background, the second act is a huge improvement. Once the conflict becomes more active in the story, the show becomes much more interesting. The use of creative flashback techniques and physical comedy showed that director/writer Kandy Cleland can handle the reins in more ways than one.
“Just Jingle” will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Oct. 11 and 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Trinity Playhouse, 234 E. Lincoln Way, Lisbon. For reservations, call 330-831-7249.