The Off Broadway Palm Dinner Theater presents Unnessary Farce!

THE OFF BROADWAY PALM THEATRE

THE LITTLE THEATRE WITH THE BIG SHOWS!

The Off Broadway Palm Theatre is located just off the main lobby inside Broadway Palm.  The Off Broadway is a 100-seat theatre with a great view from every seat!  The doors open a half hour prior to showtime for seating. If you chose to have dinner with us, the dining is in a separate dining room.

PRICES:
Evenings $53
Matinees $50
Show Only $33

ITS NON-STOP LAUGHS WITH “UNNECESSARY FARCE”

IN THE OFF BROADWAY PALM!

            FORT MYERS, Fla – January 14, 2016 – Get ready to laugh as The Off Broadway Palm Theatre presents Unnecessary Farce playing now through March 5, 2016. Written by Paul Slade Smith, this hysterical comedy has audiences laughing from start to finish!

            An embezzling mayor is set to meet his accountant in a motel room. Little does he know that two inexperienced cops have set up a sting and are in the adjoining room hoping to catch the meeting on video. The plan would go off without a hitch if only one of the officers weren’t having a secret affair; they could keep track of who’s in what room; figure out how to work the surveillance equipment; and if they could keep the accountant from taking off her clothes! Throw in a bagpipe playing hit man, the mayor’s nosey wife, a crooked security guard and you’ve got an operation for non-stop laughter!

            Unnecessary Farce is playing at The Off Broadway Palm Theatre now through March 5, 2016. The Off Broadway Palm Theatre is an intimate 100-seat theatre, located in the main lobby of Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $33 - $53 with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

My Review:

For those of you who have never been to the Off-Broadway venue.. you will LOVE it!! You still get the GREAT food from the main room. Such a shame to have to suffer with incredible food, amazing wait-staff, and outstanding productions, but.. that's a price everyone must pay. Suffering like this is NOT for the faint of heart. Trust me..

is a laugh a minute. You are witnessing one of the most wonderful DREAM TEAMS of actors on the planet.

First of all, there is Paul Bernier, Director: One of the most prolific directors/actors on the planet and joining him are Kelly and Victor Legarreta One of the most amazing and wonderful husband and wife teams of insanity and fun. When you go, try to keep an eye on their facial expressions.. Oh, and be sure to wear a Depend when you go, but know that even if you snort when you laugh, you will be in great company of a BUNCH of snorters and those laughing out loud and continuously.

Joining that merry band of jokesters is more of my 'buddies' in the craft: Katie Pankow and Drew Stark, who've I've totally enjoyed watching so many times in my history of reviewing The Broadway Palm Theatre conglomerate for the past 17 years. And such a joy it's been!

Joining them, are three more actors that I've not had the pleasure of meeting before: Donna Schulte, Joel Stigliano and Michael Weaver.

One of the most fast-paced, extreme amounts of lines, and seamless fun. There were a couple of ad libs that I LOVED seeing.. almost like the Carol Burnett show where she'd fake out Harvey Coreman. I felt so privileged to be in the audience to experience all of that..

The whole experience is NOT to be missed. The stage is close, the audience is closer and again, the fun and laughs are fast, furious and constant.

I've loved whatever Paul Bernier brings to my life along with the rest of the ensemble. And if you love a Scottish accent you will LOVE and ADORE Joel Stigliano. I sure do!

My love and admiration for all of you! So happy to see and hopefully get to know

Donna Schulte, Joel Stigliano and Michael Weaver. Ya'll continue to break many legs. You have it ALL going on!!!

   

And Behind the Scenes, but so prevalent on the stage.. Love ya, Paul.

And your Off-Broadway Line up:

HOW BOUT THE FOOD!!!?!?

SHOWBOAT/UNNECESSARY FARCE 

SHOW MENU

SHOW MENU

Chef Carved Beef Sirloin - GF
Bourbon Pulled Pork
Chicken Lombardy
Coconut Fried Fish
Penne Pasta with Roasted Eggplant and Parmesan 

Steamed Broccoli - LF
Roasted New Potatoes with Parsley Butter - GF
Cilantro Lime Rice - LF
Corn Casserole
Dill Baby Carrots – GF/LF

* Evening Only
GF - Gluten-Free
LF – Low-Fat

Full Salad Bar With Caesar Salad, Tossed Salad & Assorted Fresh Toppings & Dressings
Rolls and Butter

A Delicious Selection of Composed Salads and Fresh Fruit

Ice Cream Table with Vanilla and No-Sugar-Added Pecan Ice Cream and a variety of toppings

(Sugar-free Chocolate Ice Cream Available Upon Request)

Dessert Buffet includes Sugar-free Cheesecake and Assorted Cakes and Pies

~*~*~

AND THE REST OF THE SEASON ON THE MAINSTAGE:

aND ON

Broadway Palm's Main Stage Presents SHOWBOAT!!!

Showboat

THE BROADWAY MASTERPIECE “SHOW BOAT”

SETS SAIL AT BROADWAY PALM!

            FORT MYERS, Fla – December 31, 2015 – Broadway Palm is proud to present Show Boat playing now through February 14, 2016. Come aboard for the Broadway masterpiece that combines unforgettable songs, dazzling choreography and a story that moves us with its humanity. 

            Show Boat spans almost 50 years from 1880 to 1927 and follows the lives, loves and heartbreaks of three generations of riverboat performers, while illuminating the racial and social changes that were shaping the country. The main story follows the captain’s daughter, Magnolia, who marries a gambler and moves to Chicago only to be abandoned by him and left alone with their young daughter. As time passes, Magnolia and her daughter are reunited with their family on the show boat and her estranged husband returns with hope for a second chance. The timeless score includes Ol’ Man River, Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man and Make Believe.  
            Get your tickets today for Show Boat playing now through February 14, 2016 at Broadway Palm. Ticket prices range from $39 to $62 with discounts for children and groups of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

BACK STORY:

Music by Jerome Kern | Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Based on the novel "Show Boat" | By Edna Ferber

Show Boat is a 1951 Multi-racial, American musical romantic drama film based on the stage musical of the same name by Jerome Kern(music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (script and lyrics), and the 1926 novel by Edna Ferber. This 1951 film version, by MGM, was adapted for the screen by John Lee Mahin, and was produced by Arthur Freed and directed by George Sidney.

Filmed previously in 1929 and in 1936.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_Boat_(1951_film)

~The aspects of the original stage version dealing with racial inequality, especially the story line concerning miscegenation, were highly "sanitized" and de-emphasized in the 1951 film, although the interracial subplot was retained:

• During the miscegenation scene (in which Julie's husband is supposed to suck blood from her hand so that he can truthfully claim that he has "Negro" blood in him), he is seen pricking her finger with what looks like a sewing pin, rather than using an ominous-looking switchblade, as in the play and the 1936 film, to cut her hand with.
• The role of Queenie, the black cook (an uncredited Frances E. Williams), has been reduced to literally a bit part, and she practically disappears from the story after the first ten minutes, unlike the character in all stage versions and Hattie McDaniel in the 1936 film version. The role of Joe the stevedore (played by the then-unknown William Warfield) is also substantially reduced in the 1951 film, especially in comparison to Paul Robeson, whose screen time playing the same role in the 1936 film had been markedly increased because he was now a major star.
• In the 1936 version of Show Boat, as well as the stage version, Queenie remarks that it is strange to hear Julie singing "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" because only black people know the song, thereby foreshadowing the revelation of Julie's mixed blood. This remark is completely left out of the MGM version, as is the term colored folks, which Queenie uses.
• Some of the more controversial lines of the song "Ol' Man River" (one of them being "Don't look up and don't look down; you don't dast make the white boss frown") are no longer heard, and Queenie and Joe do not sing their section of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", as they do in all stage versions and in the 1936 film.
• There is no African-American chorus in the 1951 version, and the levee workers are not seen nearly as much in the 1951 film as in the 1936 one. An offscreen, "disembodied" chorus is heard during "Ol' Man River", instead of the usual group of dock workers who are supposed to accompany stevedore Joe in the song. The same type of chorus is heard later, in a choral reprise of "Make Believe" accompanying a montage which shows the increasing success of Magnolia and Ravenal as actors on the boat, and again at the end of the movie, in Warfield's final reprise of "Ol' Man River".

  MY REVIEW: Rogers and Hammerstein did it again. FABULOUS music and as you see above, as time passes for the production to be filmed a lot of controversial changes have either been made or glossed over. I'll be so darn happy when 'politically correctness' goes away. It's a HUGE pain in most of the patoots I've been in contact with. So stupid to keep pushing it out in front of everyone. Move ON, people!

Just a word about the costuming.. this is what the girls are packing around for hours..: Bra, Undies (Granny Panties??), Tights, Bloomers, Camisole, Corset, 4 layered petticoat, Bustle, Blouse, Skirt Over skirt, Jacket, Mic pack and hot, heavy wigs. (several of the actors have done productions featuring outdoor drama in period pieces dresses. “Corsets ain't for sissies either.”

MY DEEPEST kudos to and a positive congratulate nod to John Paul White (Dutch Apple) and Jimmy and his crew as in keeping it as an "authentic period piece" . And the yards and miles of ruffles are incredible!

Thank John Paul White for the authenticiy of the costuming.. amazing.. the voices: not one that is weak, the wigs are wicked cool and acting and dancing flawless.. ROCK ON, EVERYONE!!!

HOW BOUT THE FOOD!!!?!?

SHOWBNOAT SHOW MENU

Chef Carved Beef Sirloin - GF
Bourbon Pulled Pork
Chicken Lombardy
Coconut Fried Fish
Penne Pasta with Roasted Eggplant and Parmesan 

Steamed Broccoli - LF
Roasted New Potatoes with Parsley Butter - GF
Cilantro Lime Rice - LF
Corn Casserole
Dill Baby Carrots – GF/LF

* Evening Only
GF - Gluten-Free
LF – Low-Fat

Full Salad Bar With Caesar Salad, Tossed Salad & Assorted Fresh Toppings & Dressings
Rolls and Butter

A Delicious Selection of Composed Salads and Fresh Fruit

Ice Cream Table with Vanilla and No-Sugar-Added Pecan Ice Cream and a variety of toppings

(Sugar-free Chocolate Ice Cream Available Upon Request)

Dessert Buffet includes Sugar-free Cheesecake and Assorted Cakes and Pies