{"id":108410,"date":"2025-01-14T12:38:35","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T20:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=108410"},"modified":"2025-01-14T13:56:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T21:56:40","slug":"farce-of-habit-presented-by-avon-players-rochester-hills-mi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/farce-of-habit-presented-by-avon-players-rochester-hills-mi\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cFarce of Habit\u201d presented by Avon Players, Rochester Hills MI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 <\/p>\n

Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (American Theatre Critics Association), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Pamela Plewa, Chris Stepnitz, Andrea Crowe, Peter Buccilli<\/p><\/div>\n

Good for a Giggle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written by the acclaimed comedy writing trio Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten<\/strong> (known collectively as Jones Hope Wooten), \u201cFarce of Habit\u201d at Avon Players is a fluffy, cheesy souffle of a show. Jones Hope Wooten are among the most widely produced playwrights in the United States. While the trio is known for many a lightweight romp (\u201cRed Velvet Cake Wars\u201d, \u201cDearly Departed\u201d), Wooten was also a writer and producer on the popular TV series \u201cThe Golden Girls\u201d.<\/p>\n

The lights go down and we find ourselves in a bucolic fishing lodge in the Ozarks. There are oars mounted on the knotty pine walls and a cute sign proclaiming the lodge\u2019s name: Reel \u2018Em Inn. Despite its charms, proud owners Wanelle and D Gene Wilburn realize they need more business. They pin their hopes on an obnoxious celebrity guest, radio show host Jock McNair, who with but a word can give them a national endorsement. As it turns out, Jock is hiding out from a stalker\u2026or is she really his soon-to-be ex-wife Barb?<\/p>\n

The other characters have their own special appeal: D Gene\u2019s sister Jenna is an over-eager member of the local police force. The Wilburn\u2019s son Ty is with the local community theater and keeps popping in wearing outlandish outfits. His new bride Maxie is upset that he may be cheating, or they may not really be married \u2013 she can\u2019t decide which is worse. A workaholic guest from Ohio, Huddle Fisk, has never had a vacation and is ready to pull out all the stops at the Reel \u2018Em Inn. The icing on the cake is the arrival of the grim Sister Myrtle Agnes, who passes smug judgement on one and all, ruler in hand. Since D Gene has an absolute terror of nuns (bad childhood experience with \u201cSound of Music\u201d), the stage is set for all kinds of frenzied mayhem. Especially when the dreaded fun-size Baby Ruth wrappers make an appearance \u2013 this means a murderer is on the prowl!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chris Stepnitz, Caroline Dargay<\/p><\/div>\n

Raunchy humor and sight gags abound. Notable are: loveable Peter Buccilli<\/strong> as the recreation-starved Huddle Fisk, whose giddy excitement over being anywhere<\/u> is contagious; Film and TV veteran Michael Zois<\/strong>, who manages to make the egomaniacal Jock McNair (almost) relatable; Chris Stepnitz<\/strong> (\u201cA Few Good Men\u201d) shows his versatility in his goofy and likeable D Gene Wilburn. Other notable performances include theater veteran Andrea Crowe<\/strong> as Wanelle Wilburn, Caroline Dargay <\/b>as her lady cop sister-in-law Jenna and Corene Grillo<\/strong> as Jock\u2019s wronged wife Barb. Matt Druminski<\/strong> as Ty, Patty Hagel<\/strong> as Maxie, and Pamela Plewa<\/strong> as Sister Myrtle Agnes round out the talented cast.<\/p>\n

Director Jeff Stillman<\/strong> has acted in many farces at Avon Players in recent years (\u201cNoises Off\u201d, \u201cRun for Your Wife\u201d), but this is the first time he has directed one. His love of the genre has given him a keen understanding of how to maintain tightly paced craziness onstage and build the momentum over two acts. In the beginning of the first act, and at other times throughout the show, the cast could use some bigger energy to launch it beyond mere comedy, into the \u201cfarce\u201d zone.<\/p>\n

A farce calls for physical skill and impeccable comic timing from the entire cast. The relentless visual gags, slamming doors, pants around the ankles and absurd situations combined with a flamboyant acting style is a challenge for even the most experienced and professional theater company. Avon Players cheerfully meets the challenge and delivers a show that is really fun to watch and is sure to please.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now through January 25, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $28.00 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Avon Playhouse<\/strong><\/p>\n

1185 Washington Rd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rochester Hills, MI 48306<\/strong><\/p>\n

(248) 608-9077 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0www.avonplayers.org<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Avon Players Theatre is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (American Theatre Critics Association), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle) Good for a Giggle   Written by the acclaimed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":3,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-108410","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"