'Put On A Grumpy Face' by the Warner Theatre - A Review

Naugatuck CT

04 January, 2021

9:16 AM

Description

TORRINGTON, CT - The new installment of the Warner Theatre 9th Annual International Playwrights Festival features the fifth production in this year's virtual series. PUT ON A GRUMPY FACE is a comedy written by Reed Halvorson of South Carolina. The Warner production was once again directed by Sharon W. Houk and produced with a skeleton crew. Reed Halvorson has called Greenville, SC home for 15 years; he holds an MFA in Playwriting from University of Nebraska Omaha. The playwright said that the inspiration for this look behind the scenes of internet fame was "an assignment inspired by a song ("I Love LA") and something on the internet going "viral" (Grumpy Cat). With those in mind, I focused on the silliness of the people behind internet fame. Creating opposing characters, with one hanging on to fame, the other working to be near it." In this one-act comedy, the character Miss Tabitha Feltzer, played to the hilt by the always wonderful Colleen Renzullo, has experienced a meteoric rise to celebrity thanks to her cat, Tardar Sauce, the feline affectionately known as "Grumpy Cat." When Tardar Sauce begins to act differently, Miss Feltzer begs her newest assistant, Lisa, played by the talented community theatre actress Erin Shaughnessy, to save them both. This energetic (and very funny) play satirizes the world of fleeting celebrity synonymous with pop culture. Miss Tabitha Feltzer, played to the hilt by the always wonderful Colleen Renzullo Ms. Renzullo (IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU in Goshen, Drinking Habits 2 with Phoenix Stage Company) is a resident of Torrington and enjoys performing and directing in several local community theater groups. "It's not surprising that the members of our theater community have come up with such imaginative ways to continue doing what we love to do in the age of COVID-19," she writes in her program bio. Her performance as Tabitha (never Tabby) hits all of the correct notes and makes us laugh heartily, especially when she repeatedly gets her assistants' names wrong. I loved the shiny jacket she wears for her character's imminent television appearance. Ms. Shaughnessy writes that she is thrilled to be back on the Warner Stage after such a long hiatus for theatre. She delights us in the role of Tabitha's latest assistant. The actress is a recent graduate of WCSU's Theatre Performance program. Some recent roles include Curley's Wife in OF MICE AND MEN at LCT and the lovely Miss Honey in MATILDA THE MUSICAL. The role of Tardar Sauce is played by Spookie Carl. The feline spends most of his time snuggled under layers of blankets in his cat cave at home with his servants Colleen & Emil Renzullo. Spookie Carl is most well-known for his recurring appearance on Cooking w/Colleen's YouTube channel. He is pleased to have the opportunity to showcase his incredible talent while he rises to the challenge of portraying the real celebrity known as Grumpy Cat. Keep an eye out for Mr. Carl's brief appearance. Original Music by JAMES P. LUURTSEMA for this play is entitled Kat Groove by James P. Luurtsema. Isabel Terhune was the running crew and Audrey Terhune was the production intern. The wonderful videography was done by JEFFREY B. SCHLICHTER PUT ON A GRUMPY FACE will be available on YouTube on the Warner Theatre Facebook page from Friday, January 1, 2021 at 7:00pm through Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 11:59pm. This production was made possible by a generous donation of the Marine family. For the virtual playbill for the festival, please visit https://www.warnertheatre.org/wtipf_playbill.html Nancy Sasso Janis, who does not have any cats, has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions in a normal year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.