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BG--
Review: "Bernstein Brothers Christmas Spectacular" not typical holiday family show
Jim Cavener
ASHEVILLE - Enthusiasm and able stagecraft are the hallmarks of "The Bernstein Brothers' Christmas Spectacular," by one of the the area's new production companies, In The Moment.
The material is all original, either for this production or by company members from earlier forays into holiday mayhem. This is not your traditional year-end entertainment, trying to please everyone with sappy and saccharine nonsense. The first act of this zany romp is equal opportunity offensive material. No one is safe or spared.
Basically a spoof of the 1950's TV 'Holiday Special' genre, the hosts, fictional Jack and Jimmy Bernstein, are in Christmas-colored tux jackets, or plaid blazers, with an ever-present martini glass in hand. Think early Rowan and Martin, Perry Como, or Dean Martin. Even Pat Boone it isn't. However, the then ubiquitous cigarettes are blessedly missing.
"Christmas Spectacular" is a refreshing take on the season, with some excess in the first act. Using actual sponsors of this stage show in "commercials" is a clever twist.There are sketches based on randy reindeer, efforts to unionize Santa's elves and a way dysfunctional family who make a landmark video greeting for their friends.
The language and situations in this act are not for youngsters, nor many oldsters. This audience is the 20-something crowd, and those wishing they were still there.
The second act's "A Twisted Carol" variant on Dickens is simply brilliant in its different perspective. Knowing the frequently performed original, or condensations thereof, will enrich appreciation of this twisted "A Christmas Carol." All the familiar cast members are here: Scrooge, Cratchit, Marley's Ghost, the Sprits of Christmas Past, Present and Future, along with a puppet Tiny Tim. It works very well this way. The skit is focused, incisive and brings this dingy Dickens within reach of the most limited literary lion.
This over-the-top send-up of holiday entertainment is the work of husband-and-wife Karen Strobbe and Mondy Carter who moved from Milwaukee to Black Mountain a couple years ago. They have teamed with Jonathan Frappier and Chall Gray to bring off this high energy romp. Carter and Frappier are the Bernstein Brothers, plus random other outrageous roles. David and Karri Ostergaard joined with equally able regional actor John Crutchfield, plus Trinity Smith and Vivian Smith (no relation), and Darren Marshall to round out the cast. Strobbe directs.
Fast-paced and loud are characteristics of the production. The effort to gross out the audience in the first act was easily accomplished. Still, with some patience even the most traditional theatergoer would be reached by the creativity of the second act's new take on the immortal Dickens' expose of greed and redemption. Authentically written and convincingly delivered, "Christmas Spectacular" is a tribute to theater skills and daring aspirations.
Jim Cavener writes on theater for The Citizen-Times.
15 December 2008
Bernstein Bros.
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It's so rare these days to see reviews from the MX that I'm pleased to see this, and hope they will continue to do more of these "snippet" reviews...
BG--
From Rebecca Sulock, Mountain Xpress
Whether Christmas is or isn't your thing, get your scarf-wearing self down to N.C. Stage (behind Mobilia, in front of the Rankin Ave. parking deck) for the Bernstein Brothers Christmas Spectacular. We caught the dress rehearsal last week. The show is literally fall-out-of-your-chair funny (if you have a somewhat dark sense of humor)—I put my arm out to catch myself (dangers of the aisle seat). It's a variety show with live commercials and almost unbearably funny skits, along with a parody of Dickens' Christmas Carol that Mondy Carter (who performs as one of the brothers, among other characters) said he wrote after performing the Dickens classic some 60 times in one season.
Be their friend on Facebook and nab a $3-off coupon for the $15 ticket price.
Just finding this site exists - I want to clarify a thang or two.
1. The review lists Karen Strobbe as the director.My name is Karen Stobbe. No r in the last name
2. I was the overall production director. Jonathan and Mondy and directed within the show. I was the eyes and the show whisperer to Mondy for some of the particulars.
And many others added their own self direction which was cheered on by the ensemble
3. As for that long thread on No Shame. All I say it is called NO SHAME. We have no shame when it is atrocious and no shame when someone comes in with a piece rehearsed.
And if No Shame did not exist my husband would be even crazier than he is now. It is a creative performing outlet. Personally it's like a fire, you can't take your eyes off it, and when you leap in you may come out unscathed and exhilirated or may get burned. But that is up to you. And the audience is always right there with you to pat a few sparks out or to feed your flame. and for a self conscious, inward person as myself this helps me to light up. so burn on..no shame....burn on. ks
Wow! Caught this very funny piece of theatre this week. This is a refreshing and comic filled holiday production if ever there was.
This is a strong ensemble without a weak actor in the cast. Each one shines in their own moment and contributes so much to the play.
While I would have liked to have seen a more festive set for such a play and am confused by the 1950's set-up this show is not to be missed.
The reindeer and elves scenes almost made me lose my mind with laughter.
Really great work by a strong, strong, strong cast of Asheville's finest.
Sincerely,
TT
Hilarious. Genius. Brilliantly written. This is the best show I've seen in Asheville in three years. This is what theatre is about. This tight ensemble works together perfectly for literally the best show in the area in a long time.
Mondy Carter and Jonathan Frappier are hysterical as the drinking Bernsteins. Carter's take on Tiny Tim and Rudolph are beyond memorable.
Vivian Smith shines as the beer drinking mother and Trinity Smith has some wonderful moments throughout the play.
Darren Marshall's take on the drug dealing elf and ghost of Past is too much fun.
Karri Ostergaard is a stand-out as the happy elf and caveman and is just brings the stage to life.
John Crutchfield portrays an honest Scrooge but his work as the old elf is fall out of your seat funny.
David Ostergaard is hysterical as Jacob Marly and steals the show in the rap song.
Thank you for bringing this play to Asheville. It's refreshing, hilarious and I hope it becomes an annual tradition. Certainly it's the funniest Christmas Play this town has to offer!
As I sat down in the theatre to watch the "Bernstein Brothers" show, I was expecting it to be hilarious, so I made sure to put my wine down, so as not to knock it over while laughing. I soon picked it up, and I never needed to put the glass down at all. Not only was it not hilarious( with the exception of the family Christmas picture scene), it was rather a disapointment. Such fine actors, but such an uninspiring show. Some of it was much more sexist than was necessary and some was just downright rude and gross. To each his own , I guess, but with these actors, I surely did hope to spill at least a few drops.
Hi again. Just a friendly reminder from your editor: while anonymous reviews are certainly allowed, please remember that each review should be tagged with a name of some kind, to enable readers to get to know reviewers.
Thanks.
Keep reading. Keep reviewing.
BG--
Hello. In reference to the Anonymous wine drinker who didn't spill a drop.
As one of the producers and directors of the BBCS! Show, I just wanted to say thanks.
Thanks for writing a different opinion and you are right "to each his own". Thank goodness that everyone did not like the show. I mean some people have to enjoy other types of humor and we are good with that. We applaud all types, Jay Leno, Jeff Foxworthy, Hannah Montana...all other types of humor that perhaps we may not enjoy as much but others do. Which is wonderful.
And I am sorry you did not have a great experience. Honestly next time if I am at a show I have produced and you walk out during the show and say - "Wow I can't watch another minute" I honestly would be happy to refund your ticket. But you can't stay for the whole thing and then say that because that's like eating a whole pizza and then saying how horrible and undigestable that pizza was. Tell me at intermission. or between scenes. But then you not want to take that chance with one of our shows in the future it may just not be your cup of tea.
I wish you had signed your name but then maybe you know someone in the cast and didn't want to offend. Next time write your name. Actors & Writers have so much rejection we are used to it and if we aren't by now then we need to build up our hide.
Thanks for your opinion. Happy Holidays !! Karen Stobbe - Owner of In the Moment
one more thing and then I will probably never post here again.
I am not trying to be anything other than truly sincere. I have received 2 emails saying that I was sounding angry or sarcastic or defensive.
That is the nature of the beast of the written word - no inflection or tone.
Really - I am all for all opinions and love the fact that this site is here to hear them and write them. peace. Karen
"one more thing and then I will probably never post here again."
Let us hope that is not the case...!
BG--
PS: to post a reply under a chosen name, simply choose the "Name/URL" option, and type in your "name." Thanks!
I am going to make a small but potentially offensive and self-damaging confession before I begin. Based largely on the advertising campaign for BBCS, I went into this show with very low expectations. The “this ain’t your momma’s Christmas show,” alarmingly frequent use of the word “zany” as a descriptor, and all the wink-wink martini etc. in-jokes on Facebook were, I expect, good as far as basic exposure and awareness go, but did nothing to pump me up for an evening of comedy. I say all this in the name of honest and open disclosure and to reveal perhaps an unexpected bias because I am also friends or at least friendly acquaintances with most of the people involved in this show, and also have admiration and respect for other work of theirs I’ve seen.
All that said, I found the evening generally entertaining with some particularly bright spots, though I certainly am not having the same show-gasm it seems a lot of people have had. For me the show was characterized by some great moments, e.g. Mondy Carter’s rattled Rudolph, Vivian Smith’s harried housewife, Karri Ostergaard’s meltdown mom, and John Crutchfield’s elderly elf (that list brought to you by the American Association for Alliteration and Assonance, AAAA!) but several of the sketches kind of lost their luster after the initial gag or shtick had been established. Nothing was painfully unfunny; if I wasn’t laughing out loud I was at least engaged throughout the majority. The frame of the Bernstein Brothers’ variety hour type show is not really cohesive to the overall aesthetic and just seems jammed in between the sketches. If there were some way to do warped versions of ‘50s holiday sketches that are clearly a send-up of a particular genre, the wild-and-crazy-guy host thing might make more sense and work better as part of the whole. As it is, it comes across as a little more like, “We thought this was funny. And we thought this was funny. So they’ll definitely be funny together.”
I will say that this is probably the funniest holiday show you would have found in town this year, but I’ll leave the “best show ever” accolades to be given by others.
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