The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/20734
Mallory Hunter and Schluter IV Schluter IV, Cassie Buckley and Pondolfino Cormier wanted to see a Scrooge-production this winter with his family, so Lippincott and Dillion got to work on find- ing the right show to kick off the Stage Players’ season. With a new group and not wanting to take on a huge budget, they ruled out the original production, which calls for a cast of 39 and period Victorian costumes. Instead for this first endeavor, the five-person “A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol” was chosen, which is a lampoon of the Charles Dickens classic. The show has been a hit at regional theaters across the country since opening in 2006. Because it had never been performed in the area, the two directors said they thought it would be the perfect choice. “It’s an original production, and no one (around here) has ever seen it before,” Dillon said. “It’s exciting to bring some- thing new to the area.” The setting is Christmas Eve in Bunyan Bay, Minn. Scrooge- like bar owner Gunner Johnson goes snowmobiling across a frozen lake after he tells his wife, Clara, he’s skipping Christmas. When his snowmobile hits an ice hole, he is knocked unconscious. From there, he’s taken on a journey to rediscover holiday cheer by Midwest musical sensation Sven Yorgensen, who also plays the part of Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Also included in the muscial’s cast of characters is a kara- oke juke box with a mind of its own and Kanute and Bernice, a pair of young on-again-off again-but-mostly-off lovers. The cast is played by Tom Pondolfino (Gunner), Cassie Buckley (Clara), Mallory Hunter (Bernice), Tio Schutler IV (Kanute) and Mike Jacobs (Sven). “It’s an ensemble show, and the fact that the show is only five people makes for challenges even for a normal show, but with these five cast members, it’s pulling together nice and tight,” Lippincott said. “There are 18 different musical numbers throughout the show, and not a one of them makes sense in real life.” “A good portion of the show is dream sequences during Gunner’s comatose state, so there are just some surreal, zany moments,” Dillion added. The directors aren’t alone in seeing the progress the show was making in the weeks leading up to the first performance. Despite a heavy work schedule with more than two months of rehearsals five times a week, the cast has not gotten burnt out. “The entire script is hilarious. There are a lot of great comic moments.” Jacobs said. “The script is very juvenile, but the jokes work. We’re cracking ourselves up in rehearsal every night.” “When I first read it, I said this is the most infantile, childish humor,” added Pondolfino with a wry smile. “But it’s really starting to work.” And as local actors, each member of the cast couldn’t be more excited about the expanded opportunities the new in- house troupe brings to the area. “It’s very exciting because it adds more art to the Oneonta area and more avenues for people to get involved,” Buck- ley said. “And it’s an amazing space to begin with — very historic.” After “A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol,” the Stage Players will have its longest break before a pair of shows in April. Both directors are excited for the troupe’s future and can’t wait to get the ball rolling when the lights go up on their first production, with what they feel might be the perfect show to kick off the troupe’s occupancy at the Oneonta Theatre. “This show was written by two guys with moments of insan- ity, just like Steve and me,” Lippincott said. “In the future, we’re always going to offer open auditions for all of our shows. We just hope to offer a variety of stuff that hasn’t been seen before.” _ Trevor Hayes Photos by Benjamin Patton Info for Oneonta Christmas shows: “A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol,” Oneonta Theatre: www.oneontatheatre.com, (607) 643-4022 “A Christmas Story,” Orpheus Theatre: www.orpheustheatre.org, (607) 432-9392 “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Foothills Performing Arts Center: www.foothillspac.org, (607) 431-2080, ext. 201 Buckley and Schluter IV The Directors From left: Directors Steve Dillon and Patrick Lippincott Steve Dillon and Patrick Lippincott have been involved in the local theater scene for years. After experience acting (and in Lippincott’s case, technical directing, too), the duo are tak- ing complete creative control with the Oneonta Theatre Stage Players. The men also co-host the local access TV arts and entertainment show, “The Beat.” Dec. 2, 2010 O-Town Scene 17