By Whitney Sorensen
For anyone hoping to celebrate spooky October with more laughs than blood, the Pleasant Grove Players have a treat for you: Lucky Stiff at the Keith Christenson Theater in the basement of the Pleasant Grove Library.
This musical farce blends Agatha Christie with Weekend at Bernie’s—and that’s all you need to know about the plot (no spoilers ahead). The book and music from Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty are pleasant if not exceptionally memorable, but what truly makes this show worth the price of admission are the talented performers, the eye-catching designs in every category, and the impeccable direction from PG Players staples Howard Little and Kathryn Little.
The Littles’ casting for Lucky Stiff offers a great example of what community theater at its finest can be: a showcase for uncelebrated talent—and this cast has talent in spades. Not only have the directors plucked that talent from the community, but they found the right role for each person in this show full of character performances.
As the romantic leads, real-life couple Mitchell Boberg and Rebecca Boberg exude the innocence of young people finding their place in the world and falling in love for the first time. Rebecca in particular has a voice that somehow finds the right balance of childlike and powerful in numbers like “Times Like This” (her “I want” song) and “Nice” (a duet with Mitchell). Their constant companion is Dennis Purdie as the dead body of Anthony Hendon, the “lucky stiff” of the title. What this role lacks in lines, Purdie more than makes up for in physical comedy. A highlight for me was his bouncing along on the train ride during “Good to Be Alive.”
In a character comedy, the supporting characters typically earn the biggest laughs, and this show follows that rule to the audience’s great pleasure. I couldn’t get enough of Celine Morton as Rita La Porta, a New Jersey mob wife-type who doesn’t drop the accent for a second during her big numbers, “Rita’s Confession” and “Fancy Meeting You Here.” At her side for most of the first act is Russ Card as Dr. Vincent Di Ruzzio, her eye doctor brother who can’t get her to commit to wearing her frames.
Chuck Fontana, Charlie Fuller, Grant Holden, Richard Dover, Tina Fontana, and Rachel Linford round out the rest of the ensemble. At various times, they bring Southern belles, a punk rocker, a Texan, a bellhop, a flight attendant, and a nun to life onstage. Linford’s big moment comes during “Speaking French.” As nightclub performer Dominique Dumonaco, Linford makes the most of the sparse lyrics of this song, leading the rest of the cast in a simple but lively dance number. Speaking of dance, Rebecca Boberg wears two hats in this production, choreographing the dance numbers in additional to playing a part onstage.
Lucky Stiff itself has enough twists and turns to hold an audience’s attention, and the excellent performances only help that along, but I think the unsung hero of this production are the many colorful and quirky design elements. Cheers to Fontana for set, prop, and costume design, as well as hair and makeup. The hair and wig work by Kirsten Elkins also contributes to the onstage world. Most members of the ensemble cast don multiple wigs throughout the show, quickly transforming them into their various roles and making the cast feel like it’s twice its actual size. I also enjoyed the poster-sized playing cards that Fontana switches out between major location changes. They feel elegant and comedic and helped me follow the scene shifts with ease.
I recommend Lucky Stiff for anyone who wants to get in the spirit of Halloween but, like me, isn’t a fan of haunted attractions. The murder mystery elements make the show feel like a live game taking place before your eyes, and this is a show the whole family can enjoy together. The show I attended was sold out, so get your tickets fast.
Pleasant Grove Players present Lucky Stiff by Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty
Keith Christenson Theater, Pleasant Grove Library, 30 E Center Street, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
October 18-November 5 7:00 PM, Saturday matinee November 2 2:00 PM
Tickets: $11-12
Contact: 801-922-4524
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Lucky Stiff Facebook event
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