SPANK! The Fifty Shades of Parody spins E.L.James's popular book series, Fifty Shades of Grey in a whole new direction that will have you rolling in your seats with laughter. Whether you are a fan of the notorious series or not, this show is a must.
SPANK! takes us on a journey through the writing process of bored housewife E. B. Janet (Anne Marie Scheffler) as she sets out to write to completion her first sex novel during the week her husband and kids are out of town. Danielle Trzcinski steps in as Janet's heroine Tasha Woode, morphing and growing before us as Janet writes the lines, and Patrick Whalen plays her S&M fixated love interest Hugh Hanson.
The show opens with Whalen strutting in slow motion across a smoke filled stage towards the audience, seductively removing part of his tailored grey suit, and setting the tone for the evening.
The show plays out like improv, though it is obviously well rehearsed, and the stage is set with minimal red split curtains and a lone metal prop box. It is the perfect showcase allowing the audience to focus on the talent on stage, and they are indeed talented.
What is interesting and lovely about this show is that, although the content is at times anticipated, the placing and delivery are fresh and interesting and there is always some element of surprise in terms of what the performers can deliver.
It's not until halfway through the show that we discover Trzcinski can sing (really sing), and Whalen can also sing and play the guitar. They don't play it up either. Their talent is quite clear but their timing is brilliant and refreshingly unassuming, allowing you to settle in just long enough to realize how good they are, then snapping you out of your revelation with a beautifully timed witticism. Scheffler's timing and mannerisms are also right on the money and her ability to read the audience's response is uncanny.
The one criticism, if you could call it that, might be that Trzcinski tends to break character a little too much laughing along with the audience, which at times cuts the laughs short for the viewer and breaks the flow into the next bit.
Both Scheffler and Whalen are part of the writers team that put the show together, along with J.S.Blair, I.M.Macintyre, J.A.Millan, S.A.Moran, and C.J.Munch. J.A.(Jim) Millan also directs and does props, and Whalen also choreographs along side Nicola Pantin, and assists in directing.
The lighting and sound design are critical in a show this tight and they do not disappoint in either category.
Some of the hype around this show suggests it is mainly for the women, but the men in the audience were having a pretty good time as well, as a few in the front rows who were pulled into participate with the cast may attest.
Click on the SPANK! web site for cities and showtimes.
The show opens with Whalen strutting in slow motion across a smoke filled stage towards the audience, seductively removing part of his tailored grey suit, and setting the tone for the evening.
The show plays out like improv, though it is obviously well rehearsed, and the stage is set with minimal red split curtains and a lone metal prop box. It is the perfect showcase allowing the audience to focus on the talent on stage, and they are indeed talented.
What is interesting and lovely about this show is that, although the content is at times anticipated, the placing and delivery are fresh and interesting and there is always some element of surprise in terms of what the performers can deliver.
It's not until halfway through the show that we discover Trzcinski can sing (really sing), and Whalen can also sing and play the guitar. They don't play it up either. Their talent is quite clear but their timing is brilliant and refreshingly unassuming, allowing you to settle in just long enough to realize how good they are, then snapping you out of your revelation with a beautifully timed witticism. Scheffler's timing and mannerisms are also right on the money and her ability to read the audience's response is uncanny.
The one criticism, if you could call it that, might be that Trzcinski tends to break character a little too much laughing along with the audience, which at times cuts the laughs short for the viewer and breaks the flow into the next bit.
Both Scheffler and Whalen are part of the writers team that put the show together, along with J.S.Blair, I.M.Macintyre, J.A.Millan, S.A.Moran, and C.J.Munch. J.A.(Jim) Millan also directs and does props, and Whalen also choreographs along side Nicola Pantin, and assists in directing.
The lighting and sound design are critical in a show this tight and they do not disappoint in either category.
Some of the hype around this show suggests it is mainly for the women, but the men in the audience were having a pretty good time as well, as a few in the front rows who were pulled into participate with the cast may attest.
Click on the SPANK! web site for cities and showtimes.
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