Photo by: N.L. Belardes
One Bakersfield Woman's Blog to Mankind
Monday, August 14, 2006
Sam Sleuth and the Fall of the Coffee Baron
Saturday morning I received a text message from NL that said:
“Play 1pm.”
I had no idea what he was talking about…
My mind automatically went back to our pre-teen school days at Emerson Junior High School. Was he scheduling a play date? Was there some blogger dodge ball match on the schoolyard that I was unaware of? Was I finally being picked for dodge ball?
“Play?” I texted him.
“Sam Sleuth at the Gaslight Melodrama.”
Ohhhh… Obviously, I’m not a mind reader or being picked for dodge ball. I thought.
“1pm. Yeah I can make that. Sounds good.”
I had been wanting to see Sam Sleuth and the Fall of the Coffee Baron ever since James Mongold, co-writer with Michael Prince, enthusiastically told me about his idea of a play for the stage done completely in black and white; the sets, the costumes and makeup, all in black and white as if you were watching a black and white movie. Quite frankly it was a brilliant idea and I wanted to see if he had pulled it off.
After setting off on an adventure into the outer reaches of Rosedale, getting lost, and finally finding the Gaslight Melodrama a few minutes after 1pm, I gave my debit card to the box office personnel and was instructed to go ahead and find seats because the play had already started. Would I get my debit card back? I wondered as we found a table close to the stage.
Minutes after sitting down, I was already laughing. Laughing at the witty dialogue, the pop culture references, and the smart gags that reminded me of the wonderfully witty conversations I had had with James about life, literature, movies, theatre and country music.
Sam Sleuth’s shoe phone reminded me of Maxwell Smart’s shoe phone, only this shoe phone had cell phone ring tones. I loved the scenes with the two British butlers played by co-writers James Mongold and Michael Prince, they were zany, witty and quite hilarious. Why is it that comedy is always funnier in a British accent? And my favorite line… “the script told me.” Or something close to that when a character explained to the audience how he knew the ‘who done it plot secrets’.
My debit card did find its way back to me during the first intermission while NL was harassed into buying ice cream he can’t eat.
“She’s a great salesman,” I said as we watched her work the room with her basket of ice cream bars.
But the real question is: does Sam Sleuth pull off the black and white movie look? I would have to say that it does very well. I was impressed with the costumes, sets, and especially the grayscale makeup. I would have had a lot of fun creating looks for the cast if I had been the makeup artist for this play.
(See more pictures of the play here).
There’s still time left to catch Sam Sleuth and the Fall of the Coffee Baron at the Gaslight Melodrama. You won’t want to miss this incredibly talented production.
SAM SLEUTH and the FALL of the COFFEE BARON (July 21st-August 26th)THE GASLIGHT MELODRAMA ~Call (661) 587-3377 for reservations12748 JOMANI DR., BAKERSFIELD, CA 93312
Saturday morning I received a text message from NL that said:
“Play 1pm.”
I had no idea what he was talking about…
My mind automatically went back to our pre-teen school days at Emerson Junior High School. Was he scheduling a play date? Was there some blogger dodge ball match on the schoolyard that I was unaware of? Was I finally being picked for dodge ball?
“Play?” I texted him.
“Sam Sleuth at the Gaslight Melodrama.”
Ohhhh… Obviously, I’m not a mind reader or being picked for dodge ball. I thought.
“1pm. Yeah I can make that. Sounds good.”
I had been wanting to see Sam Sleuth and the Fall of the Coffee Baron ever since James Mongold, co-writer with Michael Prince, enthusiastically told me about his idea of a play for the stage done completely in black and white; the sets, the costumes and makeup, all in black and white as if you were watching a black and white movie. Quite frankly it was a brilliant idea and I wanted to see if he had pulled it off.
After setting off on an adventure into the outer reaches of Rosedale, getting lost, and finally finding the Gaslight Melodrama a few minutes after 1pm, I gave my debit card to the box office personnel and was instructed to go ahead and find seats because the play had already started. Would I get my debit card back? I wondered as we found a table close to the stage.
Minutes after sitting down, I was already laughing. Laughing at the witty dialogue, the pop culture references, and the smart gags that reminded me of the wonderfully witty conversations I had had with James about life, literature, movies, theatre and country music.
Sam Sleuth’s shoe phone reminded me of Maxwell Smart’s shoe phone, only this shoe phone had cell phone ring tones. I loved the scenes with the two British butlers played by co-writers James Mongold and Michael Prince, they were zany, witty and quite hilarious. Why is it that comedy is always funnier in a British accent? And my favorite line… “the script told me.” Or something close to that when a character explained to the audience how he knew the ‘who done it plot secrets’.
My debit card did find its way back to me during the first intermission while NL was harassed into buying ice cream he can’t eat.
“She’s a great salesman,” I said as we watched her work the room with her basket of ice cream bars.
But the real question is: does Sam Sleuth pull off the black and white movie look? I would have to say that it does very well. I was impressed with the costumes, sets, and especially the grayscale makeup. I would have had a lot of fun creating looks for the cast if I had been the makeup artist for this play.
(See more pictures of the play here).
There’s still time left to catch Sam Sleuth and the Fall of the Coffee Baron at the Gaslight Melodrama. You won’t want to miss this incredibly talented production.
SAM SLEUTH and the FALL of the COFFEE BARON (July 21st-August 26th)THE GASLIGHT MELODRAMA ~Call (661) 587-3377 for reservations12748 JOMANI DR., BAKERSFIELD, CA 93312
Mel,
I'm glad you liked the show.
I can't thank you enough for showing your support.
Thanks!
:D
James
hey way cool write-up... haha... play... I sounded so dumb in that message. I remember you giving me a hard time.