Psycho Beach Party Media Coverage
Psycho Beach Party Madness
by Elaine Weeks
(appeared in The Times Magazine
Issue #48, October 2004)
Chicklet Forrest, a 15-year-old tomboy, desperately wants to be part of the surf crowd on Malibu Beach in 1962, but a childhood trauma has caused her to develop multiple personality disorder. Sometimes she is a black check out girl, an elderly radio talk show hostess, a male model named Steve or her most dangerous alter ego, a sexually voracious vixen named Ann Bowman who has nothing less than world domination on her mind.
Yes, Korda Productions is at it again! Tickets are now on sale for their up
coming adult comedy, "Psycho Beach Party" by New York actor,
playwright and drag performer Charles Busch. Directed by Jeff Marontate, the
play is hyped as a hilarious send-up of '60's beach movies, mixed with
elements of such psycho dramas as 'Three Faces of Eve' and 'Suddenly Last
Summer'.
Marontate encountered Charles Busch's work in 1986 when he saw his New York
production of "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom," one of the longest running
plays in Off-Broadway history. A few years later, I read Psycho Beach Party,
and thought it was brilliant,
Marontate recalls. A couple of years ago,
I saw the film version, and when Tracey (Atin) and I were talking about
possible shows for Korda, I re-read the script and passed it to her, and she
decided almost immediately that this is a show we should do.
The play was first produced by Busch's Theater-in-Limbo company at the Players Theater in New York in 1987, and has run in many theatres in the U.S. and Canada.
Chicklet Forrest plays the leading "lady" and is aided in her desire to surf by the king of the beach, the Great Kanaka, who actually has become her alter ego — Ann Bowman's slave. Chicklet finds herself feeling love for the first time for Star Cat, a surf bum who has recently dropped out of a university psychology program. But as Chicklet becomes more involved with the beach gang, she snubs her best friend, the incredibly nerdy Berdine, and also finds herself at odds with her Joan Crawford-like mother, Mrs. Forrest.
Add to all this the B-movie actress in hiding, Bettina Barnes, two sexually confused beach bums — Yo Yo and Provoloney, and the high school vamp, Marvel Ann.
Jeff Marontate, Korda's Resident Director, brought last year's "The Rocky Horror Show" to Windsor audiences. Set design is by Daniel Nolin, who created the posters for "The Hobbit" and "The Rocky Horror Show" as well as for "Psycho Beach Party." Costumes are by Resident Designer Kelly [Ridley], whose costumes for "The Hobbit" marked her stage design debut.
Leading the crazy cast is Katie MacTavish, as surfer-wannabe Chicklet Forrest. MacTavish, who was so impressive as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit" last spring, is joined by "Hobbit" cast member Davydd Cook as surf bum Kanaka, Korda's Producer and Founder Tracey Atin as movie starlet Bettina Barnes, and Christopher Menard as Chicklet's mother, Mrs. Forrest. Also from Korda's "The Rocky Horror Show" is Jenn Bateman as sex kitten Marvel Ann.
New to Korda Productions are Jeff Hanson as Provoloney and [Khris] Lamb as Yo Yo, Christine Laskowski as Berdine and Dylan McDonald as Star Cat. [Mike Breschuk also made his Korda debut as hot dog stand attendant Nicky.]
Psycho Beach Party will be [performed] at the Capitol Arts Centre in the Daniel Patrick Kelly Theatre, on October 29th, 30th and 31st, and November 11th, 12th, and 13th. All performances begin at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available at the Capitol Theatre Box Office at (519) 253-7729.
GET READY FOR PSUN, PSURF & PSYCHOSIS
Korda brings Psycho Beach Party to the Capitol
Cassandra Frechette
Lance Writer
(Appeared in The Lance, the University of Windsor's student newspaper, on
October 27, 2004)
In February 2003, The Windsor Theatre scene welcomed a new player to the stage. Korda Productions debuted as a theatre company with Side By Side By Sondheim, a musical revue at The Capitol Theatre & Arts Centre, wowing audiences.
Korda Producer, Tracey Atin, saw an opportunity to make a mark on the
theatre community of Windsor, Essex County, and even neighbouring Detroit.
I've been involved as a performer in Windsor for a long time,
Atin said.
I enjoyed the vibrant community theatre scene, but I missed 'out of the
mainstream' theatre that was edgy, provocative. I also wanted to create another
place for professional actors, set/costume designers, and directors to
work.
Describing itself as a, not-for-profit company dedicated to offering
theatre that is challenging, original and daring,
Korda intended to
promote local artists by providing a supportive and stimulating environment
in which to further develop their talent.
A mission statement finalised,
what was needed was a vehicle and a venue.
Korda previously ran successful productions of the Rocky Horror Picture Show [sic] and The Hobbit and while the latter was wrapping up Korda announced plans to bring Charles Busch's "Psycho Beach Party" to Windsor in October 2004.
A PARTY ON THE BEACH
New York actor, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, drag legend and star of
film, Charles Busch first presented his wild tale to NY audiences in 1987. He
described it as a story in which, 'Gidget', Frankie and Annette beach party
epics and Hitchcock psychological suspense thrillers such as 'Spellbound' and
'Mamie' are given a shotgun marriage.
The story finds 15-year old tomboy, Chicklet Forrest — played by [Katie] MacTavish — doing all she can to join the surfers of Malibu Beach in 1962. Her quest is complicated by a wickedly controlling Mother, a needy best-friend, and a slight psychological trauma that has picked this crucial time of her adolescent life to rear its ugly head.
Of course, Chicklet is not alone on the beach. She is joined by The Great Kanaka, a beach-bum lifer; Star Cat, a university drop-out; Yo-Yo and Provoloney, two beach boys growing closer by the second; Berdine, an intellectual of the grandest kind; and Marvel Ann, the resident she-slut. Rounding out the mix are Bettina Barnes, an actress on the run; Nicky, the hamburger-flipping beach observer; and the domineering Mrs. Forrest.
Everything runs smoothly for the partygoers until someone starts attacking them... with a straight-razor, strippers pasties, and super-glue. What follows is a wacky tale Busch spliced together from the films that shaped modern cinema.
KORDA GOES PSYCHO
The decision to perform the show stemmed-from a seed planted in Korda's
resident director Jeff Marontate's mind years ago. Having seen some of Busch's
work in 1986, Marontate — a fan — later read "Psycho Beach
Party" and was hooked. A couple of years ago,
Marontate said,
I saw the film version and when Tracey [Atin] and I were talking about
possible shows for Korda, I re-read the script and passed it to her, and she
decided almost immediately that this is a show we should do.
Atin recalls, When Jeff [Marontate] suggested this play as a Korda show,
I was very skeptical. Then I read it. It's very funny, smart, sexy, and
slightly subversive. A perfect fit for our company.
In her second outing with Korda, MacTavish found herself cast as the lead,
and immediately fell in love with the complex Chicklet Forrest. On winning the
role, MacTavish said, I was so happy and excited, it was the greatest
feeling.
Having been in rehearsals for nearly five months, she added,
It's been difficult because I'm not fifteen anymore, and I have to forget
about all the adult stuff I know.
MacTavish relishes the opportunity to step onto a local stage again. It
gives me something to put on a resume in addition to the phenomenal University
Players shows,
she said. It also gives me a chance to take what I'm
learning in class and apply it to the real thing.
Meanwhile, Davydd Cook, as Kanaka, feels the challenge in bringing his
character to life has been quite a learning experience. First there's the
problem of trying to get inside the head of a less-than-bright twenty-something
beach bum from 1962 who's still hanging on to the beach long after everyone
else his age has gone respectable,
Cook said. Add in the fact that he's
a closet submissive who gets off on being treated like a slaveboy, and it's a
bit of work to figure out his head.
On his work with Korda, which has required him to try on overtly sexual and
unquestionably cool-guy roles, Cook said there is, lots and lots of terror.
But that's why I'm in the theatre — to be able to do anything. I come
from a theatre that has a lot in common with the 'Empty Space', so working
within the vivid spectacle of Korda's productions has been both exciting and
forced me to adapt to new ways of performing.
He credits Marontate and
Atin, saying, Jeff takes care of his actors, and Tracey — as a
producer and performer — really makes you feel valued and important, on
and off stage.
MacTavish and Cook, share the stage with Korda alumni Atin as Bettina Barnes, and Jenn Bateman as Marvel Ann. They are joined by Korda newcomers Mike Breschuk as Nicky, Jeff Hanson as Provoloney, Khris Lamb as Yo Yo, Christine Laskowski as Berdine, and Dylan MacDonald as Star Cat. Of the cast, two graduated from the U of W, three are currently BFA students, and the others are all enrolled in various programs.
Breschuk, a fourth year Drama student, has enjoyed the experience of working
on his first Korda show and said, It's been a joy working with this terrific
cast, and it's always a pleasure to work under Jeffs direction.
Of working with talent from the U of W, Beth Lyster, Korda's Resident Stage
Manager, explained, We're fortunate to have such a top-notch drama program
in the city that gives groups like ours access to exciting new talent.
She
added, Korda hopes to continue working with the actors who've benefitted
from excellent training at the School of Dramatic Art.
After creating a slew of mesmerising costumes for The Hobbit, Kelly Ridley again graces Korda's stage with her design flare and imaginative styles for this, her second show with the company. Husband Raven serves as Props Master, while Daniel Nolin — who worked on both 'Rocky' and 'Hobbit' — has conceived and implemented the set design and artwork for the show.
Now, as the cast and crew gear up for the show's opening night performance on October 29, Marontate is pleased with what they about [sic] to present to Windsor audiences. The psycho romp unfolds at The Capitol Theatre October 29 - 31, and November 11 - 13, all shows at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $20.00. For further information, visit www.kordaproductions.com
Korda hosts beach party during Autumn's full swing
Amanda R.
Lance Writer
(Appeared in The Lance, the University of Windsor's student newspaper, on
November 9, 2004)
On Saturday, October 30, I grabbed my suntan lotion, my shades and parasol, and headed to The Capitol Theatre & Arts Centre downtown to see what all the 'bru ha ha' was about with Korda Productions 'Psycho Beach Party'.
Before the lights even came up, I was already sure I wouldn't regret my decision. The set, lit by soft pre-show lighting, was a treat. Designed by Daniel Nolin, it was made of simple wood-flats painted with vibrant colours, depicting cartoon images of sand, waves, and a hamburger joint on the beach.
As the story progressed, flats were rotated to reveal bedrooms, living rooms, and even giant Tiki-God heads for the dramatic Luau climax of the show. Meanwhile, the hamburger joint opened into the beach shack of one of the show's main characters.
The story began, much as publicized, with Chicklet Forrest, a 15 year-old tomboy telling the audience how she felt different from other girls, and that while they were worried about finding a boy, she was worried about learning to surf.
Second-year BFA student, Katie MacTavish, portrayed the girl with the 'sex drive of a marshmallow' to perfection. This was no small feat, considering her character — possessed by multiple personalities — was at times a dominatrix, a black checkout clerk, a radio talk show host and — a surfer boy. She navigated the various alter egos with ease, seeming at home in a role demanding range.
U of W graduate Davydd Cook played The Great Kanaka, a grown man who has long overstayed his welcome on the beach but can't seem to let go. Cook was a comic genius, and seemed to revel in the role, displaying great chemistry with MacTavish, whose personality — Ann Bowman — takes it upon herself to make Kanaka her personal slave boy.
As the story progressed, the audience was introduced to Yo-Yo, played by Khris Lamb and Provoloney, played by U of W BFA acting student Jeff Hanson. The duo brought much humour to a script already filled with parody, wit and an occasional acid-tongue. An explosive moment between them at the beginning of the second act left audience members applauding or gasping — depending on the person — in shock.
Jenn Bateman, another acting student, and Roxie Hart in Theatre Alive's 'Chicago' last year, was hilarious as Marvel Ann, a sex kitten with an attitude and no time to waste in her quest for the most 'gorgeous hunk of California He-man' she could find. And Christine Laskowski, as Berdine, brought a perfect balance of nerdy innocence and genuine vulnerability to the role of Chicklet's idealistic and naive best friend, who seemed — at times — eager to be more.
Meanwhile, the adorable Dylan MacDonald, as Star Cat, was consistent and
brooding, adding an element of teen heartthrob to a play based on old movies in
which the hot stud was critical. Equally engaging was Mike Breschuk, a fourth
year drama student, as Nicky, whose opening scene line, Gosh... I'm so
happy!
kick-started audience laughter that rarely stopped for the rest of
the show.
I would be remiss in not mentioning two performances that left me howling. As Bettina Barnes, a B-movie actress on the run, Tracey Atin — Korda's Producer — was a smash. Clad in an array of fetching garments and speaking in an accent reminiscent of old Hollywood starlets, Atin — in a large hat and hide-your-face shades — was a delight. Meanwhile, Christopher Menard, as the Joan Crawford-like Mrs. Forrest (mother of Chicklet) was a wicked indulgence.
Jeff Marontate, Korda's Resident Director, seems to have gotten the most out of a talented cast and crew to bring this hilarious parody to the Capitol's stage. A second run begins Thursday, Nov. 11, 12, 13. All shows are at 8 p.m., and tickets run for $20.00.