[NEohioPAL] Berko review: WE GOTTA BINGO (14th Street Theatre)

[Roy Berko]

‘WE GOTTA BINGO’ an interactive happening that
encourages the audience to “let loose.”

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

--Coolcleveland.com—

Don’t go to see Bingo, now on stage at the 14th Street
Theatre in Playhouse Square,  expecting to see a great
theatre epic.   What you’ll participating in is a
free-wheeling, interactive, mostly adlibbed
experience, filled with playing Bingo, polka music
(what else?), dancing, being dragged up on stage to
participate in shenanigans, and winning prizes such as
a fake stuffed turkey or a used sweater or sitting on
a throne if you are lucky enough to actually achieve a
bingo.

The “plot,” and I’m using the word in the broadest
sense, centers on the decision to combine an Italian
Catholic parish with an Irish one (let the bickering
and insults begin).  By mistake, the wrong church is
destroyed by the wrecking company, so a fund-raiser
has to be held to get the money to redo the building. 
Far fetched?  Of course, that’s what leads to the
ridiculousness of the double sexual inuendos, the
entrance of the archbishop (who was sitting next to
you just two minutes ago in normal clothing), and the
mad racing around by the cast.  It’s also what caused
one of my tablemates to fake a leg injury so he didn’t
have to do the Chicken Dance.

Performed in the vein of  the long running ‘TONY N’
TINA’S WEDDING,’ ‘WE GOTTA BINGO,’ which is being
performed both here and in St. Paul, places you in a
German beer garden.  The “meal” consists of Bruschetta
San Dominica, 
Insalata del Lotto, homemade lasagna, warmed garlic
bread and an 
assortment of Wunderbars.  Now, don’t get the idea
this is gourmet food.  It’s served on paper plates,
you eat with plastic forks, and the bread comes
wrapped in aluminum foil.  Think, Ladies Auxiliary
food served in a church basement!   

Many names familiar to local audiences are in the cast
including Eileen Burns (who sings up a storm), Liz
Conway, Paul Floriano (as his usual ill-tempered
curmudgeon), Patrick Carroll, Lissy Gulick (the lady
can actually play the bass), June Lang (who portrayed
Mrs. Vitale in ‘TONY & TINA’S WEDDING) and Dan
Marshall (who looked fetching at the conclusion in a
fishnet off-the-shoulder outfit).  And, Paul
Hupalowsky, from where else than Parma, playing the
accordion.  The affair is guided by Resident Director
Jacqi Loewy and Director Ross Young.

Capsule judgment: The cast seems to be having a good
time.  The audience, depending on an individual’s
possessing the ability to let loose and just let
things happen, including being a willing or unwilling
participant in the shenanigans, leaves smiling.  
(This would make a great holiday party occasion. 
Groups of 16 or more get priority seating and special
ticket prices.)
 
I was told by a member of the production crew that the
show, which was intended to close later this month,
has been extended until mid-February at the 14th
Street Theatre in Playhouse Square.  For tickets,
which range from $49.50 to $65,  call 216-241-6000,
800-766-6048 or go on line to www.playhousesquare.com.
  Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 7:30,
Saturday at 5 and 8:30 and Sundays at 5.



Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


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