Ok, I admit, I’m a little tardy to the party. “The Winter Wonderettes” at the brand new Ocean State Theatre in Warwick has been open since Dec. 5, but I just got around to seeing it this week. With that said, there’s still another week of the show, and, perhaps more importantly, there’s a full season coming up in 2013.
For those of you who may have missed the memo, Ocean State Theatre opened earlier this month. It’s operated by Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the same people who produced shows at Theatre by the Sea (TBTS) in Matunuck for the last five years. Although OSTC won’t be putting up shows at the historic barn playhouse in South County any longer, they’ve started a new chapter: producing theater just a stone’s throw from T.F. Green Airport in the budding Station District.
They’ve managed to successfully convert a large, open garage space into a 409-seat theater in a matter of months, and now, they’ve got two wonderful shows on the stage.
The space has maintained its industrial feel, and doesn’t, at first glance, seem like a theater. But once you’re inside the auditorium, you realize the comfy (albeit lightly worn) chairs provide great sightlines of a large, proscenium-style stage.
But I’m getting a bit off topic. When I visited earlier this week, I saw a delightful production of “The Winter Wonderettes,” a spin-off the successful off-Broadway show, “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” The show is simple: four girls in the 1960’s entertain their hardware company’s employees (you, the audience) with a festive holiday show. The plot isn’t important, really. What is important is the ability of the four women in the cast to flawlessly harmonize on Christmas classics, and to keep you entertained. And these women succeed at both.
The “Wonderettes” are comprised of four OSTC favorites: Lulu Lloyd who played Judy in “9 to 5” at Theatre by the Sea; Erin McCracken who was Tracy in their “Hairspray;” Kim Morgan Dean who worked on the Theatre by the Sea’s first full season in 2008, and Melissa Robintette, who just played Rosemary in “How to Succeed…” All of them bring something wonderful to the table. Lloyd has a crystal clear soprano belt that effortlessly climbs from her middle to upper range. McCracken has a soulful tone and excels on both brassy numbers and tender ballads. Robinette is perky, and shows off her comedic and dancing skills with a hilarious dance to “Suzy Snowflake,” and Dean has a big Broadway belt reminiscent of the White Way’s greatest.
With choreography reminiscent of “The Lawrence Welk Show” by M.K. Lawson, a great band under the leadership of Dan Micciche and an adorable set by Kimberly V. Powers, the show is a lot of fun to watch.
Yes, the plot is thin, and there’s a lot of camp. Yes, the play gets saccharine sweet at times, and there are moments of over-the-top comedy. But there’s a lot of heart, too, and what better time than the holidays to see such a show? Be warned, there is some audience participation – but I must say, though I’m not usually one for actors leaving the bounds of the stage to head for the crowd, I did have such a great time I spilled my $6 wine (which wasn’t too shabby, either).
Running in rep with “The Winter Wonderettes” is a starkly different “SantaLand Diaries,” starring TBTS favorite Lennie Watts as Crumpet the Elf. A sardonic take on the holiday season, the show is filled with cynicism, curse words and a copious amount of laughs. Unfortunately, I missed this one, but if I know anything about David Sedaris (he’s the playwright, and I’ve read most of his books) and Watts (he’s a hoot on and off stage), the show is certainly stellar.
So whether you choose the nice “Winter Wonderettes” or the naughty “SantaLand Diaries,” you can’t go wrong at Ocean State Theatre this holiday season.
Both shows run now through Dec. 30 at Ocean State Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. Call 921-6800 or visit www.oceanstatetheatre.org for tickets.
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Kim Kalunian
