If you find yourself with a short attention span during traditional theatrical productions, fear not; MCT’s newest main stage production packs 10 shows into one.
In a departure from its typical programming, the theatre elected to replace its first main stage production, usually a “straight play,” with a collection of beloved skits from the “Carol Burnett Show.” Featuring an ensemble cast, the show includes eight separate skits, interspersed with the antics of “The Old Folks” during scene changes.
When asked why he chose to deviate from the norm in order to bring the collection of sketches to the stage, director Jim Zimmerman’s answer was simple: “Because it’s funny. Everyone knows Carol Burnett.” The cast’s love for Burnett’s original work drove the majority of them to audition for the show, and carries through to the final production. “I grew up on that stuff; I watched it every week. I’m looking forward to the nostalgia,” said actress Donna Nussenblatt.
One of the many elements of the original sketches that the cast hopes to draw from is the actors’ ability to improvise within each skit’s framework. “I just loved the way that they never knew what these guys were going to do on a live show,” said actor Jerry Nussenblatt. “They rehearsed it one way, but they never knew what they were going to do once they hit the stage. The actors were always trying to break each other up.” Although the cast says that learning lines and getting “off book” with a condensed rehearsal schedule proved difficult, they are now confident that their final weeks of rehearsals have allowed them to hide some extra laughs up their sleeves. “We’re cracking each other up; we’re all just having fun with it,” said actress Charla Garrison. Ready for her first performance on the MCT main stage, newcomer Barbara McCann Bain adds, “I’ve met so many nice people. It’s unreal; there’s a nice camaraderie between all these people, and they’re very encouraging.”
Most may think that acting in a few short skits is a less daunting task than portraying a character in a two- or three-hour show, but according to the cast and production staff, this isn’t exactly the case. Shorter skits present unique challenges that actors may not typically face in longer productions. “The challenge is timing,” said Zimmerman. “Not the timing of changing the set or getting the props in order, but the timing of the actors doing what they’re supposed to be doing.” With limited time to assume their roles (most skits are less than 10 minutes long), the importance of being in character from the second the lights go up is paramount. “You don’t have any character development throughout the whole thing,” Zimmerman said. “The characters are already there. They have to be who they are as soon as they start talking. From there, it’s quick wit to make it funny.”
Barbara McCann Bain, left, and Sandra Vandusen fight over the right to speak the opening line in ‘The Coffee Commercial.’ 
Taylor Covington stars as the announcer for each sketch. 
Clod (Larry Garrison) takes Bonnie (Charla Garrison)’s pleas to return to his villainous ways a bit too literally 
Charla Garrison, left, encourages her downtrodden villain husband Larry Garrison in ‘Bonnie and Clod.”’ 
Arnie Steinmetz, left, and Cheryl Wilcox provide hilarious interludes as ‘The Old Folks.’ 
From left, Jimmy Ashcraft, Dakota Mertyris, and Terry Israel sort out their marital issues in ‘Divorce American Style.’ 
Terry Israel laments her marriage in ‘Divorce American Style.’
After so many nightly rehearsals with an empty auditorium, the cast is itching to showcase the finished product with a live audience. Those who have taken the stage before know that the interplay between the actors’ humor and the crowd’s reaction lend an entirely different life to the show, one transparentpharmacy.net that fuels it to climb to new heights. “The satisfaction for me is partly hearing the audience roar with laughter,” said Jerry Nussenblatt. “Everyone will feel so much better about what they’re doing and the work they’ve put in when they hear these people laughing their heads off.”
Though some MCT productions may cater to a younger or older audience, the production team believes the skits should be fun for ages 8 to 80. “It’s good, clean, fun humor,” says MCT newcomer Sandra Vandusen. Donna Nussenblatt adds, “The grandmothers will remember the original, and there are a lot of period references that they’re going to get. The kids will get the rest of the funny stuff.”
“The Carol Burnett Show Skits” runs from Friday, Oct. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 23. With the exception of the first weekend, which features a Friday, Saturday and Sunday performance at 8 p.m., shows will run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. A special matinee performance will take place on Sunday, Oct.17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $28 plus tax and are available at www.marathontheater.org or by calling the box office at 305-743-0994. The theatre is back to full capacity. Masks are highly recommended but not required.
