By Kerry Clawson Beacon Journal arts writer December 2, 2015 - 05:56 PM
It seems I’ve mellowed out over the last six years, considering I found the goofy little musical Guys on Ice more entertaining this time around than I did holiday season, has a barely-there story and mostly schlocky tunes that attempt to hold the lightweight 90-minute show together. But this show knows how to laugh at its own lame hinterland humor in a story about friendship between ice fisherman in a shanty on Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin.
Director MaryJo Alexander made a preshow disclaimer about the “groaner” jokes that would be coming and even offered a choice few herself as she led the audience in practicing their groans.
The show stars the ever-funny Frank Jackman, who, even when his character Lloyd is over-emoting as he bursts into song, has a bright spirit that shines through. He created an authentically disarming moment with the emotional ballad Everything is New, a tune about the beauty of ice fishing early in the morning when the rest of world is asleep.
Bob Keefe also is fully invested in his simpleton character Marvin, whose main goal in life is to win the heart of a cashier at the Pick ‘N’ Save. The two share some inspired moves via synchronized Velcro and zipper sound effects as they perform Ode to a Snowmobile Suit.
Most of the ditties are rudimentary fare with vamping chords, with one of the funnier ones from Ernie the Moocher (Shawn Galligan) being Leine’s Is the Best Beer, an ode to Leinenkugel’s.
Shawn Galligan is cute as Ernie the Moocher, working the audience over nicely with a “halftime” audience-interaction game show of Wisconsin trivia. Prizes range from a “one-pack” of Leinenkugel’s to a pickle. He’s such a cheerful mooch and is so ridiculous on the ukulele, we like him even though Lloyd and Marvin don’t.
Guys on Ice premiered in 1998 at American Folklore Theatre in northern Wisconsin’s Door County, written by the late Fred Alley with music by James Kaplan. Besides its reprise at Actors’ Summit, it is also playing at the Milwaukee Rep for the holidays. In Akron, theatergoers seeking a seriously silly holiday production just may find this show their cup of tea.
Tickets for Guys On Ice is are available online at www.actorssummit. org. Or call 330-374-7568. The show runs thru Dec. 20th, 2015.