Let me start this review by saying, I almost didn’t post it at all. Not because the show isn’t hilarious…it is. Not because the accompanying dinner isn’t church-social-worthy…it is. I almost didn’t review the show because, quite frankly, after seeing it last weekend, the remaining performances through tonight SOLD OUT earlier this week. That said, I feel Renaissance Players Gaslight Dinner Theatre production of Church Basement Ladies is indeed due any and all praise.
I’ll also admit I had never heard of Church Basement Ladies, perhaps because I didn’t grow up in the midwest and wasn’t raised Lutheran. After doing a little research, I discovered Church Basement Ladies is the musical adaptation of of Janet Letnes Martin‘s and Suzann Nelson’s 1997 book, Growing Up Lutheran. Oh, wait…I do remember that title from my years of working at Tower Books. In case you’re still not familiar…Think Nunsense, but replace Catholicism with Lutheranism and swap out the sassy nuns for a group of ladies who, as the primary cooks in the church kitchen, are the backbone of the community. Being raised Church of Christ and knowing a few church ladies myself, I can totally relate.
For Renaissance Players’ Church Basement Ladies, Brett Myers, fresh off his starring role as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, steps behind the scenes to direct. For his cast, he’s enlisted the help of two of his former Little Shop co-stars, Tory Gunn and Leslie Kopischke, as well as first time Ren Players Abigail Nichol and Lindsay Terrizzi Hess. Rounding out the cast is Brian Best, having most recently appeared in Audience of One’s West Side Story.
Set in 1965, Church Basement Ladies takes place in the titular church basement, which houses the aforementioned kitchen, as well as the Pastor’s office and an unseen–but key to a few subplots–boiler room. Designed and constructed by Jon Kopischke, Marc Pearson and Scott Mollenhour, the set is perfectly charming. If you’ve ever stepped foot in a church basement, or fellowship hall, you’re feel right at home as it’s complete with a refrigerator (the light actually turns on when the door opens), a stove and a freezer big enough to hide a bride or cool a menopausal church lady, but I digress.
With Closer to Heaven (in the church basement) as the show’s opening number, it’s quickly evident this isn’t some thought-provoking theatrical piece. Other clever titles range from The Pale Food Polka, My Own Personal Island (the above referenced menopausal number) and Dead Spread, a little ditty about funeral food. These are just a few of my favorites. There’s also For Good (NO, not the Wicked one) but like Elphaba’s change of heart tune, this one also encompasses on of the show’s ah-ha moments.
Gunn as Vivian, Kopischke as Mavis and Terrizzi Hess as Karin portray the main three church ladies. Gunn is the epitome of the know-it-all, self-appointed ruler of the roost as Vivian. She plays her as a doddering old lady who’s equal parts sweet and bitter. While the entire cast does an affable job with the musical numbers, it’s Gunn’s voice that shines in many of the show’s group numbers.
Kopischke’s Mavis is strictly played for laughs, think Mama’s Family’s Mother Harper mixed with the often outrageousness of any given Betty White role. An achievement in itself, considering Kopischke’s youth.
Terrizzi Hess, whom I first became aware of when she starred in The Keeton Theatre’s South Pacific, is enjoyable as Karin, the youngest of the church ladies, who’s poised to take the helm when and if a changing of the guard ever occurs within the ranks of the church basement. Cast as the mother to Nichol’s character, Terrizzi Hess plays the role with a kindness, while not allowing herself to be taken advantage of. Taking the lead on several of the musical numbers, Terrizzi Hess proves she’s got the talent to do so.
As Karin’s daughter, Signe, Nichol’s frequent visits home provide many of the show’s set-ups, as they coordinate with holidays and special occasions in which the church ladies would be in the basement preparing meals. Nichol’s Signe represents the changes, not just among the church ladies, but in the world around them as she have ventured out beyond their small town and the sanctuary of…well, their sanctuary. But just when you think the show might tackle some more serious issues, there’s a will-they or won’t-they wedding instead. While the entire show is kitschy and cute, one near-finale scene gets a little too outrageous for my taste, reminding me of some of many of the farcical shows local dinner theatre’s tend to have a penchant for.
On the subject of outrageous, Best’s Pastor Gunderson is uncharacteristically played down from the usual scene-stealing I associate with Best. Yes, he gets to guffaw it up in a bunny suit (Hey, the remains shows are SOLD OUT, so it’s not really a SPOILER, right) but it’s when he deals with the show’s more tender moments, like the death of a dedicated church employee that Best is, well…best (I”ll never stop using that when reviewing show’s he’s in…I mean, it’s right there in the name). Best serves up the laughs and the more serious emotions with equal finesse.
Speaking of serving…the dinner portion of Renaissance Players’ at the Gaslight Dinner Theatre serves up a delicious meal, catered by The Front Porch, located in nearby downtown Dickson, is the stuff of which Sunday dinner’s on the ground are made. I truly love that the area dinner theatres have all stepped up their food-game in recent years, and I credit it to The Gaslight Dinner Theatre, who’ve consistently served delicious fare from the beginning.
If you missed out on Renaissance Players’ Church Basement Ladies, considering virtually the entire run was SOLD OUT, I’m convinced saying a little prayer might bring Vivian, Mavis, Karin, Signe and The Pastor back to The Gaslight Dinner Theatre. After all, like the above-referenced Nunsense, there are–to date–five sequels to the original, including Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping. If Renaissance Players is smart, they’ll be securing the rights to that one for next season.
Up next for The Renaissance Players, upstairs at the Renaissance Center in the auditorium, is Disney’s Alice In Wonderland Jr. with shows September 21-September 30. CLICK HERE for tickets. To keep up with the latest from Renaissance Players, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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