Excerpted from The City Paper, Toledo, Ohio, Page 14, September 18-24, 2003
Wild women do get the blues
Village Players get down 'n' dirty
by Kay Louise Jurski
Had it not been for the line of slowing cars on Upton Avenue and the flock of
smiling people headed in the same direction, I probably would have driven right
by the inconspicuous little red building known as The Village Players Theatre.
Within the humble lobby was the welcoming sound of conversation and laughter.
The friendly crowd increased steadily as each person passed through the doors.
This lively group gave off a pleasing sense of anticipation for the 2003-04
season's opening production "Blues in the Night."
In its 47th season, theatre members and guests gathered for the dramatic presentation of 26 torchy songs in "Blues in the Night." The production's soul-singing part of the cast included Dana Pilrose, Ellen Noneman and Karla Behrman. The three "sirens" portray neighbors in a cheap Louisiana hotel who recall with fervor, their memories of no-good-men and bootleg liquor. The three sorrowful singers were accompanied in song and dance by Jake Gordy, who in '30s-style had and suspenders, amused the audience with the recurring theme that "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues."
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the performance was the flawless harmony the Pilrose, Noneman and Behrman execute in their songs together. There was even a shocking physical similarity to the Andrews Sisters' "America's wartime Sweethearts." Perhaps The Village Players could reunite their actresses for timely wartime renditions of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree."
The evening was not completely dedicated to down 'n' dirty singing. Outbursts of laughter and giggling came when Behrman batted her eyes in Betty-Boop style and swing her "weenie-scarf" about as she sang the upbeat tune, "Kitchen Man."
From the mature audience, a true sense of community emerged through comments of approval and support of the theatre. Brigitte and Sam Wagener, who were first introduced to The Village Players by a neighbor said they enjoyed the performance and like many others who attended, have been season ticket holders for a number of years. They were proud to share the fact that this community theatre is a complete collaboration of voluntary efforts. "I applaud what they do here," Sam Wagener said, "They don't get paid and still are incredibly dedicated."
The Village Players Theatre was founded in the early 1950s by a group of men and women from the village of Ottawa Hills in an effort to form a theatre group for community entertainment. The Village Players gave many of their first performances beneath a tent in Ottawa Park. Their first musical, "Plain and Fancy," was performed in 1958 at the Collingwood Presbyterian Church and was directed by Arthur Lithgow, father of the television and movie star, John Lithgow. In 1960, The Village Players found a permanent home on Upton Avenue in a building they converted from a church to what is now a theatre equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and seating for nearly 200 guests.
"Blues in the Night" is directed by Wes Skinner and includes the talents of band members Dave Begley, Ray Woods and Deb Wlodarski who also serves as musical director for this production.
"Blues in the Night" runs through Sept. 27. Tickets are $14-$16. The Village Players Theatre is located at 2740 Upton Avenue., between Monroe Street and Central Avenue. The Village Players Theatre holds open auditions and welcomes new scripts and play ideas. For more information, call 419-472-6817 or visit the Web site www.thevillageplayers.org.
Last Modified: 10/10/03