THE IMISH ENSEMBLE THEATRE

PUSENTS...

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'Bang' Packs Laughs

Ronelle Grier
Special to the Jewish News

I

can't remember when I've
had so much fun at the
theater. Laugh out loud fun.
From beginning to end, 80 min-
utes, no intermission.
The Big Bang, Jewish Ensemble
Theater's second production of the
season, is filled with big laughs,
thanks to a hilarious script and
three extraordinarily talented
actors who seem to be having as
much fun performing as the audi-
ence has watching them.
Trzaskoma and Brian Thibault in a scene
Greg Trzaskoma and Brian
JET's production of The Big Bang.
Thibault play two theatrical
Another comical number features Mrs.
partners who are trying to get
Ghandi and Mary as they join forces to
investors, a.k.a. the audience, for their
complain about their sons. `After all the
proposed 12-hour musical epic, The
loaves and fishes, guess who had to do the
Big Bang. This ambitious $83.5 million
production, which chronicles the history dishes': laments Mary.
No ethnic group is exempt as the
of the world from the beginning to the
actors go from playing Shanghai Lil and
present time, will have 318 cast mem-
Tokyo Rose, with bundles of yarn spiked
bers, 6,428 costumes and 1,400 wigs.
The cash-strapped partners make their with knitting needles atop their heads,
to Indian princesses Minnehaha and
presentation in a borrowed Park Avenue
Pocahontas, bemoaning the singles scene
apartment, acting out the roles them-
in the lobby bar of the Algonquin Hotel.
selves in a wacky collection of makeshift
There's even a torch song by Eva Braun
costumes ranging from potted plants to
about the perils of falling in love with the
shower curtains.
What follows is an uproarious series of wrong man.
Stacy Cleavland, the play's
songs, written by composer
third cast member and its
Jed Feuer and lyricist Boyd
musical director, provides
Graham. One of the first and
piano accompaniment. She
funniest numbers is "Free
Food and Frontal Nudity;' where Thibault maintains a comically deadpan expres-
sion throughout most of the play, appear-
and Trzaskoma portray Adam and Eve,
ing not to notice the screwball antics of
cavorting in skimpy briefs and a few
her co-actors.
strategically placed fig leaves.
Monika Essen's elegantly furnished
The costumes, designed by Mary
New York apartment set is gradually
Copenhagen, are as inventive as the
dismantled as the actors make use of the
seemingly impromptu manner in which
various decorative accessories, and effec-
the actors use the apartment's furnish-
tive use is made of the talent of sound
ings to enhance their characters. An
and properties designers Patrick Field
upside-down lampshade and leopard
and Diane Ulseth.
curtain toga transforms Trzaskoma into
Director Mary Bremer seems to have
Queen Nefertiti; Thibault plays Napoleon
wearing a black mantle clock on his head, followed the old show business adage of
"leave them wanting more." When the
while the chefs of King Henry VIII wear
actors
receive word that the apartment's
hats made from white Zabar's bags.
owner
is coming home unexpectedly
In a scene from the old South,
early,
they
make a hasty exit, leaving the
Trzaskoma plays the servant Inertia
audience
virtually
in mid-laugh.
while Thibault is a Southern belle, preen-
For
anyone
who
wants to invest in an
ing in a hoop skirt he makes by hooking
evening
of
nonstop
fun and laughter,
two opened umbrellas over his belt and
is
a
sure
thing. t_
The
Big
Bang
covering them with yards of sheer fabric.

Musk by Jett Feuer
Booh & Lyrics by Boyd Graham

December 8-January 3, 2010

Imagine trying to get backers for an 83.5 million-dollar twelve-hour staged history
of the world! Just picture eighteen side-splitting numbers portraying, among
others, Adam and Eve, Attila the Hun, the building of the pyramids, plus Julius
Caesar and Columbus. Visualize the writers trying to promote their show in
an opulent "borrowed" Park Avenue apartment, singing and clowning their
way through inventive recreations of the past, and stopping occasionally
for a little supplicating showbiz patter. An entertainment
extravaganza long on historical hilarity!

)v.H

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Elva

248.788.2900 • www.JETTHEATREORG

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a-
353

6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield

.0' On the ATIV corner of Maple & Drake Roads in the Jewish Community Center

1556330

JERSEY BOYS

Complimentary Shuttle
Service from your home to
our Detroit Restaurant for
any group of 10 or more...
Anytime in the-month of
December!!!

REV IEW

JET presents The Big Bang through Jan. 3 at the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield. For show times and ticket prices, including
special New Year's Eve performances with celebrations, call (248) 788-
2900 or go to jettheatre.org .

Shuttle,
service w
to all

Show' s
(Detroit locati!! only)

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19

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New Years
Eve!

of

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Now taking
reservations
for

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n pet - et

4222 Second Avenue
1477 John R
(just north of Mack)
(At Maple)
Troy, MI
Detroit, MI
248-588-6000
313-832-1616
www.mariosdetroit.com

1559030

December 17 2009

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