THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 15, 1994 TAG: 9411150288
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Two guarantees about the dinner theater production at Angler's Cove: One - you've never seen anything like it. Two - you'll be hard put to find anything that is so much fun.
``A Bethel Home Companion,'' a localized version of ``Prairie Home Companion,'' is broadcast over imaginary radio station WRCH. That's Radio Henry Carney, in honor of the Angler's Cove owner.
Everything that has made Garrison Keillor's program so popular is right there - the tongue-in-cheek commercials, the mix of country and folk music, the wonderful storytelling, the audience announcements.
The interpretations live up to the excellent material. The saucy cast is A-1. (Well, that's the kind of humor you'll find.)
This is the first offering by the Angler's Cove Dinner Theatre, a rejuvenated version of the defunct Bootstrap Players. Most of the performers were Bootstrappers with a lot of comedic and musical stage experience.
As much fun as they have offered the past few years at Angler's Cove, ``A Bethel Home Companion'' tops everything. For the uninitiated, Bethel is the crossroads community home of the home-y restaurant.
Steve Casper makes the audience feel at home. He adopts the low-key Keillor approach and his work as master of ceremonies is outstanding. He is very relaxed and very sharp.
In additon to his emcee work, he is a masterful storyteller, and a fine singer and guitarist.
Another important cast member is keyboardist Roy Darnall, a 78-year-old still-going-strong performer who shines whether working solo or providing backup.
Neither he nor drummer Lynn Dale ever overpowers the singers. The sound in this production is bell-clear.
It is clear that director-performer Glee Hammer did not whip this show together with an iron hand. You get the idea she told the cast to do their thing, relying on their obvious writing and performing talents.
Casper's talent seems never-ending. His version of Chet Atkins' ``Frog Kissin','' - which reminds Phil McMullan of a frog joke - is a great deal of fun.
Casper seems to enjoy tackling the difficult. The fast-moving ``The Auctioneer'' and the clever tongue-twist version of ``Cinderella'' are beautifully executed.
Other highlights: the Phil McMullan and Janice Swingle ``Carolina Moon'' duet; Casper and Lynn Whitehust's song about ``Bennett's Mill;'' Whitehurst's reprise of ``The Scotsman,'' and the Southern Medley by Darnall and Dale.
Still more: The catty ``Henry's Beautiful Milk'' commercial by Hammer and Julie Feeney; Casper again, this time with Eugene Baker and a look at the menu at ``The Catfish Cafe;'' McMullan, Whitehurst and Kristy Green's weird, localized folk songs, and the Darnall, McMullan, Whitehurst not-too-easy-to-do ``Fugue for Tin Horns'' from ``Guys and Dolls.''
The guys and dolls at Angler's Cove, located in beautiful downtown Bethel, must be seen to be believed. You will thoroughly enjoy, all of you - the whole family. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Dinner Theatre at Angler's Cove presents ``A Bethel Home Companion''
at Angler's Cove Restaurant. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.,
with the production at 8.
by CNB