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GRP brings sunshine to Tri-State Area's winter
by diane vance /gate city staff writer
Great River Players offers the best antidote to a cold, long winter with its Valentine season offering of “The Sunshine Boys,” a Neil Simon comedy.
This weekend, the Grand Theatre hosts a play originally written for Jack Benny and George Burns, comedians, friends and actors who started in vaudeville. Benny died before the show could be produced. Burns did play in it and since its debut in 1972, Jack Klugman, Walter Matthau and Tony Randall also have done the show.
In Keokuk, GRP veterans Chuck Betts and Dr. John Vance play the aging, one-time vaudeville team billed as Lewis and Clark.
Al Lewis (Betts) broke up the act 11 years ago, forcing an unwanted retirement on Willie Clark (Vance).
The show opens with Clark in his small New York apartment. His nephew and agent, Ben, aptly portrayed by Steven Johnson of Hamilton, Ill., visits weekly, bringing groceries and Clark's required reading, “Variety.”
Clark, forgetful, cranky and disheveled, keeps looking for a role - in a play, a musical, the movies, TV - and even commercials. It's 1972, vaudeville is forgotten and new comics are emerging. He is bitter about retirement and disdainful of his former partner of 40-some years.
“I haven't seen him for 11 years but not spoken to him for 12,” says Clark.
“You didn't speak for a year while working with him?” Ben is incredulous.
Vance tells his nephew he hates Lewis. He put up with spittle and finger-jabbing in his chest for more than 40 years in the act.
“Promise me you'll eat decently,” Ben says, ready to leave.
“Get me a job,” says Clark. “The only job you got me was commercials. Schick injector! Potato chips! Alka Seltzer!”
When his nephew reminds him he lost those jobs because he couldn't remember the name of the chips or the lines for Alka Seltzer, Clark says, “I don't eat potato chips. I don't need lines for Alka Seltzer. I have a great face for upset stomach.”
Vance, with wild hair, perched reading glasses and a perfected slipper shuffle - he stays dressed in robe and pajamas many days - delivers his dialog with a New York accent and authenticity. (Vance went for a white-hair dye job and got blond.)
Ben brings the news that a reunion television special is planned. The producers want Lewis and Clark to reunite and do their beloved “doctor sketch.”
After much talking, arguing, convincing - and confiding that Lewis's wife passed away a few years back - Ben is successful in bringing Lewis to Clark's apartment.
Over tea, the old partners air grievances, point out faults, show interest and compassion and remain stubborn.
Some of the jokes and lines may be anticipated, but among Johnson, Betts and Vance, they are funny all over again.
“This has been an easy show to direct,” says Randy Whitaker of Hamilton. “I haven't done much directing of John (Vance) and Chuck (Betts). Some of this is purely their characters.”
A first for Whitaker is directing his father, Kenneth “Duck” Whitaker, who plays the patient in the doctor sketch.
“I've directed all three of my kids, Lacey, Jesse and Rikke, plus my nephew Nick,” says Whitaker. “This is the first time Dad's been on stage. It's been fun to work with him.”
Also in the doctor sketch are GRP actors Bridgetta Crayton playing a registered nurse and Deaven Swainey, also a nurse, specifically called for by Lewis as “young, blonde and built.”
Brian Barns (who played Glorious in GRP's “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”) plays a director for the TV special, and Mark McCune is his stage assistant. McCune, last seen as George Bailey (Jimmy Stewarts' role) in GRP's “It's a Wonderful Life,” is transformed in tight leather pants and an earring.
High school students Nikki Kelly, Elsa Scott and Merissa Lewiston play props in the TV special and also help behind the scenes with the stage crew.
Diana Kraus is producing the show.
Designer and set builder Christal Lewiston's talents shine through in the staging of Clark's upper Broadway apartment. She was assisted by Linda Tracy, Merissa Lewiston, Isaiah Hartweg and Diane Stanley.
Deisy Harrington designed the costumes, Laura Harmon is doing hair and make-up. Property managers are Prue Backlin and Stanley.
Bobbi Lutzen controls the lights and Barnes is working the sound board.
Christal Lewiston is stage manager and the stage crew includes Tracy, Hartweg and Kraus along with the high school girls.
Sarah Vigen is house manager for the show.
Some dialog contains mild profanity.
This weekend, the Grand Theatre hosts a play originally written for Jack Benny and George Burns, comedians, friends and actors who started in vaudeville. Benny died before the show could be produced. Burns did play in it and since its debut in 1972, Jack Klugman, Walter Matthau and Tony Randall also have done the show.
In Keokuk, GRP veterans Chuck Betts and Dr. John Vance play the aging, one-time vaudeville team billed as Lewis and Clark.
Al Lewis (Betts) broke up the act 11 years ago, forcing an unwanted retirement on Willie Clark (Vance).
The show opens with Clark in his small New York apartment. His nephew and agent, Ben, aptly portrayed by Steven Johnson of Hamilton, Ill., visits weekly, bringing groceries and Clark's required reading, “Variety.”
Clark, forgetful, cranky and disheveled, keeps looking for a role - in a play, a musical, the movies, TV - and even commercials. It's 1972, vaudeville is forgotten and new comics are emerging. He is bitter about retirement and disdainful of his former partner of 40-some years.
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“You didn't speak for a year while working with him?” Ben is incredulous.
Vance tells his nephew he hates Lewis. He put up with spittle and finger-jabbing in his chest for more than 40 years in the act.
“Promise me you'll eat decently,” Ben says, ready to leave.
“Get me a job,” says Clark. “The only job you got me was commercials. Schick injector! Potato chips! Alka Seltzer!”
When his nephew reminds him he lost those jobs because he couldn't remember the name of the chips or the lines for Alka Seltzer, Clark says, “I don't eat potato chips. I don't need lines for Alka Seltzer. I have a great face for upset stomach.”
Vance, with wild hair, perched reading glasses and a perfected slipper shuffle - he stays dressed in robe and pajamas many days - delivers his dialog with a New York accent and authenticity. (Vance went for a white-hair dye job and got blond.)
Ben brings the news that a reunion television special is planned. The producers want Lewis and Clark to reunite and do their beloved “doctor sketch.”
After much talking, arguing, convincing - and confiding that Lewis's wife passed away a few years back - Ben is successful in bringing Lewis to Clark's apartment.
Over tea, the old partners air grievances, point out faults, show interest and compassion and remain stubborn.
Some of the jokes and lines may be anticipated, but among Johnson, Betts and Vance, they are funny all over again.
“This has been an easy show to direct,” says Randy Whitaker of Hamilton. “I haven't done much directing of John (Vance) and Chuck (Betts). Some of this is purely their characters.”
A first for Whitaker is directing his father, Kenneth “Duck” Whitaker, who plays the patient in the doctor sketch.
“I've directed all three of my kids, Lacey, Jesse and Rikke, plus my nephew Nick,” says Whitaker. “This is the first time Dad's been on stage. It's been fun to work with him.”
Also in the doctor sketch are GRP actors Bridgetta Crayton playing a registered nurse and Deaven Swainey, also a nurse, specifically called for by Lewis as “young, blonde and built.”
Brian Barns (who played Glorious in GRP's “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”) plays a director for the TV special, and Mark McCune is his stage assistant. McCune, last seen as George Bailey (Jimmy Stewarts' role) in GRP's “It's a Wonderful Life,” is transformed in tight leather pants and an earring.
High school students Nikki Kelly, Elsa Scott and Merissa Lewiston play props in the TV special and also help behind the scenes with the stage crew.
Diana Kraus is producing the show.
Designer and set builder Christal Lewiston's talents shine through in the staging of Clark's upper Broadway apartment. She was assisted by Linda Tracy, Merissa Lewiston, Isaiah Hartweg and Diane Stanley.
Deisy Harrington designed the costumes, Laura Harmon is doing hair and make-up. Property managers are Prue Backlin and Stanley.
Bobbi Lutzen controls the lights and Barnes is working the sound board.
Christal Lewiston is stage manager and the stage crew includes Tracy, Hartweg and Kraus along with the high school girls.
Sarah Vigen is house manager for the show.
Some dialog contains mild profanity.
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