Scaled Back, ‘Lagunatics’ Still a Success

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Eric T. Anderson, Berkeley Clements and Rob Harryman in a scene from "Lagunatics." Photo by Mitch Ridder
Eric T. Anderson, Berkeley Clements and Rob Harryman in a scene from “Lagunatics.” Photos by Mitch Ridder

A nearly full-house audience tapped their feet, sang along and even Conga danced at last Saturday night’s performance of “Lagunatics,” the irreverent show roasting Laguna Beach issues and events.

For the first time, the show is playing at historic Legion Hall, a venue occupied by No Square Theatre, the community theater led by Bree Burgess Rosen.

Rosen wrote the “Lagunatics” script with Chris Quilter, Michael V. O’Malley and Rebecca Lyles.

Besides a smaller performance space, also new is live music, led by Roxanna Ward on piano and voice. Her rendition of “You’re the Cop,” made for a rousing tribute to Laura Farinella, Laguna Beach’s first female chief of police.

Eric T. Anderson, Chuck Schoen (sun)
Eric T. Anderson, Chuck Schoen (sun)

 

 

“We are here in our own space at last, but there is no room for a large cast,” said Rosen. She cut the cast by 60 percent and fretted that with only nine shows, between Oct. 2 and Oct. 25, the show might not break even. Pointing at the few empty seats, she asked the audience to brings friends and direct the “lonely butts into seats waiting for them here” at the show’s opening.

A skit on water conservation.
Randy Hatfield, Ella Wyatt, Eric T. Anderson

Members of the audience, though, praised the smaller, more intimate venue. Keith Elliot and Jim Birren, who hadn’t seen the show in a decade, had driven up from San Diego. “We prefer this stage rather than the larger productions. It’s more intimate and so much fun,” they said.Laguna resident Dave Kelleher described this show as “the best they ever had.” “I’ve been to 10 shows before and this change is awesome,” he said.

As in years before, choreographer Paul Nygro pointed performers’ bodies into proper directions, a bit more of a challenge since the Legion’s stage is viewed from three sides, he said. “Nobody is hidden, everybody is in the front throughout the show.”

Titled “We’ll Take the Low Road,” the show spoofs the preponderance of not always appreciated public art, with Arts Commission member Pat Kollenda’s providing comical voiceover. Also on the radar are the new Festival of Arts facade, Louis Longi’s canyon live-work studios, the lifeguard headquarters and the increasing size and expense of parking lot signage, to name a few.

Altogether, the production produced much amusement among the audience, provided by a joyous cast comprised of veteran performers like Mary Schmidt. Her repertoire ranges from coyote to drunken party girl to human disco ball. While Schmidt quipped that her 10-year experience is comprised of “dizziness and dancing,” newcomer Berkeley Clements said that she “gets to sing, dance, laugh and be in the moment on stage.”

Five-year veteran Jay Rechter calls his experiences working with Rosen “a blast.” Describing himself as a fourth-row dancer, he covers the gamut here, from a homeless guitarist playing odes to Susi Q, to a luxury car driver insistent on finding a city roundabout. Rechter, a computer programmer by day, lived in Laguna for nine years before moving to Irvine.

Bridget English, Ella Wyatt, Berkeley Clements
Bridget English, Ella Wyatt, Berkeley Clements

Then there is the endless tug or war about whose tree is sacrosanct or a view-

Berkeley is out front. Marc Marger and Eric T. Anderson are holding her “frame”,  Behind them are Mary Schmidt, Rob Harryman, Yvonne Browning, Bree Burgess, Bridget English, Randy Hatfield, a hidden Evie Cant, and our rehearsal narrator (and co-author) Chris Quilter (on his birthday)
Berkeley is out front. Marc Marger and Eric T. Anderson are holding her “frame”,
Behind them are Mary Schmidt, Rob Harryman, Yvonne Browning, Bree Burgess, Bridget English, Randy Hatfield, a hidden Evie Cant, and our rehearsal narrator (and co-author) Chris Quilter (on his birthday)

blocking nuisance, the Airbnb rental mess and the telephone poles in the canyon. Rob Harryman who stands in for Mayor Bob Whalen in the pole skit, called the show “recess for adults.”

But, the skit “Laguna Woman,” based on the discovery of a 17,000-year-old woman’s skull in these parts, brought down the house. The all male cast is clad in pseudo leopard print while hamming it up to Helen Reddy’s musical anthem “I am Woman.”

But, no goats!

Instead, Rosen subbed in coyotes which, while fessing up to eating people’s pets, lamented that part of their bad rap was that they were not big-eyed cute like those sea lions in the canyon.

Developer Mark Christy wasn’t spared and neither was the drought or Laguna enduring stifling heat. “Bake Laguna” performed to the Latin beat of Lord Kitchener elicited laughs and sighs.

Also new is the lack of celebrity politician performers. Instead, a variety of community members, including elected officials, serve as narrators. On Saturday, Council member Rob Zur Schmiede took a turn. Perched on a replica of the notorious canyon “doughnut bench”, he gamely admitted to being new to the task. Other narrators include Council member Kelly Boyd, AIDS activist Ken Jillson and Kollenda.

 

Marc Marger, Eric T. Anderson, Jay Rechter
Marc Marger, Eric T. Anderson, Jay Rechter

 

Marc Marger down front with the Holy Parking Meter
Marc Marger down front with the Holy Parking Meter

 

 

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