WHAT'S A VILLAIN DOING IN A COOKIE SHOP?

WHAT'S A VILLAIN DOING IN A COOKIE SHOP?   BY Barbara Biddison

Here's the perfect reason to get off your feet following a full
morning and/or afternoon.  Plan to relax after exploring Laurel
Festival activities and food and chatting with friends.  Head for the
Warehouse Theatre where you'll find  "Melodrama at the Festival The
Old Cookie Shop" in performance.  It's a bit shorter than an hour, and
I enjoyed my time at a dress rehearsal.  The sweet Rosie O'Grady
(Breeze-lyn Bronkoski) captures your heart from the very beginning,
and you really don't like Mortimer Whiplash, the cruel banker (David
Gordon), so that gets you started.  And everything will be turned
around and flip-flopped by the time the doctor (Herb Johnson ) arrives
to explain it all.  And Thomas Bishop as the "love-interest" has led
the audience to believe that all will be well.

There really isn't much to keep track of in this story, but that's how
melodramas are..  This is Titus Himmelburger's second melodrama to
direct during a Laurel Festival weekend.  He has a real feel for the
spirit of fun and simple story and stock characters, and the actors
follow his lead.  And the piano! Don't forget the piano which moves
us right along in good spirit throughout the entire play.

This show is appropriate for all ages.  Even the very youngest will
"get it" and an adult can easily prepare kids for the overacting which
is part of a melodrama.  All will also enjoy the "encouraged" audience
participation.  They can/should laugh and cry and cheer and boo
throughout the play.  I think it's fun for children/teens/adults to
behave in ways that are usually considered rude or disturbing!
Nobody can resist the invitation to, in a sense, be part of the play!

So, c'mon...have a COOKIE.

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