Holiday Humor Improv Troupes Take the Stage at LMC’S Hanson Theatre

THURSDAY, December 18, ENTERTAINMENT2014 The Herald-Palladium Section D Herald Palladium 12/18/2014 Copy Reduced to %d%% from original to fit letter page Holiday humor Improv troupes take the stage at LMC’s Hanson Theatre

By JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO HP Features Writer

BENTON HARBOR — Dann Sytsma’s Crawlspace Eviction comedy troupe has built its reputation on relationship-based improv. So, it’s not surprising when he and his wife, Tara Sytsma, share the stage to- gether that a bit of real life sneaks into their act. “There’s so much humor in relationships,” Dann Sytsma says by telephone from Kalamazoo. “Some- times we need to laugh about things we may have thought were really serious at the time. We have a 4-year-old boy and a 20-month-old girl. Our 4-year-old son is always Jody Warner / HP correspondent coming up with crazy Captain Peter Stossel (portrayed by Karol Garrison), center, and the crew of the Rouse Simmons, a turn-of-the-century Great Lakes schooner that delivers (stuff). Just the way that he Christmas trees to Chicago, sing during the Twin City Players’ production of “The Christmas Schooner.” talks and behaves is so fun- ny and kind of quirky and weird, which we fully ex- pect. So sometimes on stage we will say things the way he says them, which are jokes only she and I would know, but it makes each other laugh.” Sharing the Christmas spirit When the Sytsmas and fellow Crawlspace Eviction TCP takes the Mendel Center Mainstage for the first time with production of ‘The Christmas Schooner’ members Bannon Backhus, Brian Lam and Brian Dug- By JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO marks the fi rst time in the Mendel Center was there, but it uay perform Friday along HP Features Writer company’s storied history that it was always the place people from with the Benton Harbor- has staged a show in the 1,500- out of town could use, did use, based TORP Improvisa- BENTON HARBOR — Bill What: Twin City Players present seat space. and could afford to use. Up until tional Comedy troupe dur- Klein stares at the box that holds “The Christmas Schooner” “As an organization it’s an about 18 months ago, we ing “The Ha! Ha! Holidays his yet-to-be-assembled artifi cial amazing step for us,” says Klein, couldn’t afford to turn the lights Show” at Lake Michigan Christmas tree as the panic sets When: 8 p.m. Friday and Satur- who also plays the role of Oskar on there. But Mike Nadolski and College’s Hanson Theatre, in. day, 2 p.m. Sunday in the show. “We’ve been in our the people at the Mendel Center they’ll be doing a lot more “My house is a mess right Where: Lake Michigan College little playhouse on Glenlord have bent over backwards to than making each other now,” Klein says, laughing. “I Mendel Center Mainstage The- Road since 1985, and our main reach out to community organi- laugh. have no tree up, no Christmas atre, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Ben- season has always been there. zations to say they want this to Since 2003, Crawlspace decorations up, and my grand- ton Harbor This opportunity could open us be the region’s theater. By Eviction has been deliver- kids are going to be here in three up to a different audience. The cutting fees for us, they’ve even ing not only laughs, but days.” How much: $15, $7 for children people who go to the Mendel allowed us to keep ticket prices chortles and guffaws for a Klein, who happens to be 12 and younger might not have ever heard of the same. I just can’t say enough president of the Twin City Contact: 429-0400 or Twin City Players. If we can about it.” See IMPROV, page D6 Players, isn’t prone to holiday twincityplayers.org create an audience of people With such a big opportunity procrastination. It’s just his who enjoy live theater, it benefi ts for TCP, the company is mount- thoughts, and much of his time, us, and it benefi ts the college.” ing an equally monumental show. has been devoted to providing present a groundbreaking “It’s a game changer,” adds Based on the historic Great holiday spirit of a different sort. production of “The Christmas Paul Mow, who is directing the Lakes voyages of Christmas tree What: “The Ha! Ha! Holi- Opening Friday, the St. Joseph- Schooner” at the Lake Michigan production. “When I days Show – A Comedy based community theater group, College Mendel Center Main- grew up in Co- See SCHOONER, page D5 Extravaganza” featuring which formed in 1932, will stage Theatre. The three-date run loma, the Crawlspace Eviction and TORP improv groups When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Hanson Theatre, Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor How much: $15, $10 stu- dents and seniors Contact: 927-1221 or www.lmcmainstage.org Artist info: www. crawlspacetheatre.com; www.torpfunny.com Harbor Country Opera ready for ‘Jolliest Christmas Ever’ Copyright (c)2014 The Herald-Palladium 12/18/2014 December 18, 2014 2:42 pm / Powered by TECNAVIA Musical showcase celebrates 10 years

By JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO HP Features Writer

THREE OAKS — There What: Harbor Country was a moment when Har- Opera presents “Jolliest bor Country Opera impre- Christmas Ever” sario Robert Swan didn’t think he’d be able to belt When: 8 p.m. Saturday out “The Christmas Song Where: The Acorn Theater, (Chestnuts Roasting On An 107 Generations Drive, Open Fire)” during Satur- Three Oaks day’s “Jolliest Christmas Ever” concert at The Acorn How much: $25 Theater. Contact: 756-3879, 231- The bout of stomach 0027 or www.acorn cancer in 2009 didn’t keep theater.com him away, nor did the 2012 Artist info: www.harbor car crash that left him with countryopera.org a bruised spine. But head- ing into this 10th anniver- sary season of the popular tion of the popular Christ- Christmas show, Swan mas tune. found a stunning lack of “Last winter was really chestnuts on the two trees hard on the trees,” Swan on his Rolling Prairie, Ind., says. “One tree didn’t pro- property. Part of his annual duce anything. The other shtick has always been to produced 700 and I gave Photo provided hand out actual roasted Martha Cares and Robert Swan perform during last year’s Harbor Country Opera Christmas show, which is now in its 10th year. chestnuts during his rendi- See OPERA, page D5 Herald Palladium 12/18/2014The Herald-Palladium Copy Reduced to %d%% fromENTERTAINMENT original to fit letter page THURSDAY, December 18, 2014 – D5 The D’oh of Homer: Professors employ TV’s Simpsons

By FRANK ELTMAN Longtime “Simpsons” Associated Press executive producer Al Jean says he’s not surprised pro- HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — fessors have embraced the Bart and Lisa Simpson program. “Some people have been in elementary may think we are very vul- school for 25 years. But gar, but then they find that hasn’t stopped them there is a lot of warmth from showing up on col- and emotion and many lege campuses. people are surprised at the Universities across the intelligence of some of the country are using satirical jokes,” he says. references from “The Pioreck says he decided Simpsons” to grab stu- to use the show after a dents’ attention and con- friend of his daughter’s vey lessons in literature passed an exam on “The Photos by Jody Warner / HP correspondent and all manner of popular Devil and Daniel Webster” Meagan Francis as Alma Stossel, center, and the other village women during the Twin City Players’ “The Christmas Schooner.” culture. by watching a “Simpsons” “If the references are im- episode that focused on the SCHOONER six-member live orchestra. portant enough to be lam- story. Notable songs from the pooned by ‘The Simpsons,’ He found that the sitcom From page D1 musical include “We All these works must be im- usually aims for more than Have Songs,” “Pass it On,” portant cultural mile- just the easy punchlines, ships during the late 1800s “What is it About the stones,” says Hofstra Uni- with writers layering the and early 1900s, “The Water?,” “Winterfest versity adjunct English plotlines with humor that Christmas Schooner,” a Polka,” “Questions” and professor Richard Pioreck, can be appreciated by low- musical written by John “Hardwater Sailors.” who has been incorporat- brow, middlebrow and Reeger with music and lyr- “As we’ve talked about ing the denizens of Spring- highbrow audiences alike. ics by Julie Shannon, tells this, every one of us has field into his courses for For example, in one epi- the true story of a Michi- said at one time, ‘I’ve about a decade. sode that parodied “A gan shipping captain who never done a play where He currently teaches a Streetcar Named Desire” braves the deadly winter I’ve played a real person,’” course about the Broadway (“A Streetcar Named Mar- weather to bring Christ- Klein says. “I don’t know theater and how “The ge”), the dynamics of mas trees to homesick if Oskar existed, but Simpsons” have embraced Homer and Marge Simp- German-American somebody like Oskar various musicals and plays. son’s marriage are deftly families in turn-of-the- certainly did. When the Next semester, he shifts to illustrated through a com- century Chicago. crew gets to Chicago and an online literature course parison to the relationship The story is simple. It all these people are waving titled “The D’oh of Hom- of the couple in the play, pits the altruistic wish of at us, you realize this isn’t er” that includes readings Stella and Stanley. Captain Peter Stossel a typical trip. They are from Edgar Allan Poe’s “‘The Simpsons” do a (Karol Garrison) to bring bringing something more “The Raven” and “The great deal of parodying, Christmas joy to Chicago than just trees. It’s a Fall of the House of Ush- whether it’s a complete against the need of his family story about tradi- er,” and Charles Dickens’ script or a number here or wife, Alma (Meagan tions and overcoming “A Christmas Carol” – all there,” Pioreck says. “Quite Francis), to protect her tragedy and what the referenced in “Simpsons” often they choose family husband by keeping him Christmas spirit is all episodes. relationships; what makes from the foolhardy about. And it’s real. That’s “Teachers need to keep a man a success is one of journey. The captain’s what makes it so impact- things fresh,” says Denise the things that we pursue. selflessness inspires his ful.” DuVernay, an adjunct And you can see what hap- son, Karl (Will Turner at It’s not hard for Klein English professor at St. pens to Homer. Even age 9, Jason Cope at age to think of family during Xavier University in Chi- though it looks like he’s 15), earns the trust of his this particular production. cago, co-author of the not a good father, he steps aged father, Gustav (John Karol Garrison plays Captain Peter Stossel, right, and Will Turner His wife, Barbara Klein, is book “The Simpsons in up and he comes through Berecz), and eventually, portrays Captain Stossel’s son Karl in the Twin City Players’ pro- one of the costumers for the Classroom: Embiggen- in the end.” the understanding and duction of “The Christmas Schooner.” the production. His ing the Learning Experi- Jean acknowledges a acceptance of his wife. daughter, Lauren Klein, is ence with the Wisdom of theme in many episodes is “It’s based on a German when they do there’s 500 cially close to home for a member of the ensemble Springfield.” the comparison of the C. family in Manistee, Mich., people waiting on the me, not just because it’s as well. Then there’s those “They need to reach stu- Montgomery Burns char- around 1882,” Klein says. docks.” set on the shores of Lake soon-to-be arriving dents however they can. acter – the miserly owner “My character, Oskar, is “The Christmas Schoo- Michigan, but because my grandchildren, Madeline, And using ‘The Simpsons’ of Springfield’s nuclear one of the crewman of the ner” is based on the true ancestors two or three 8, and Evan, 5, from to grab their attention, I power plant – to the lead schooner owned by Peter story of the Rouse generations ago, who were Chardon, Ohio. think, is brilliant,” she says. character in the movie Stossel, who runs lumber Simmons, a Great Lakes German immigrants, went “My grandkids are “Fighting against pop cul- “Citizen Kane,” Charles during the sailing season. schooner that sunk in a up north to be loggers,” coming in for the Christ- ture isn’t going to do any- Foster Kane. The captain gets a letter violent storm on Lake Mow says. “I don’t know mas holiday a few days one any good.” “Mr. Burns ... he doesn’t from his cousin in Chi- Michigan on Nov. 23, if they were part of any of early because they’ve In recent years, other have fulfillment in his life cago who says they can’t 1912. Each year, its these ships, but the more never seen their grandpa universities have had even though he’s the rich- get Christmas trees in the captain, whose real name I’ve delved into it myself, perform before,” Klein courses focused on the est person in town,” Pi- city. So the captain was Herman Schuen- the more it’s become really says. “It means so much to primetime show – which oreck says. “Here are two decides to harvest them emann, would sell trees personal.” me because it’s such a celebrated its 25th anniver- people who have it all, they and take them to Chicago. right off of the ship at the The cast features more beautiful story. I’m so sary on Wednesday – in- have more money than On that first trip, he’s Clark Street Docks, and than 35 members, an glad they’re going to see cluding Oswego State Uni- they know what to do with wondering if anybody is was known to give free immense set – including this show.” versity in New York and and yet they’re not happy. even going to be there trees to the needy. the ship – designed by Contact: [email protected], 932- San Jose State University Homer has no money, but when they arrive, and “The story sits espe- John Taylor, and a 0364, Twitter: @HPBonfiglio in California. has friends and family.”

OPERA “I’m bringing back the with pianist Anatoliy poser Max Reger’s “Maria ple are involved in more “Before we did this show most favorite pieces of the Torchinskiy, harpist Ramo- Wiegenlied (Mary’s Lulla- parties than they ever want I was a total ‘bah humbug’ From page D1 ones we did as well as most na Kim and guitarist Nate by),” a 1912 art song whose to go to,” Swan says. “When kind of guy,” he says. “But Copyright (c)2014 The Herald-Palladium 12/18/2014of the original cast and Herman providing accom-Decemberrhythm in both18, 2014the melody 2:43 pmI first / Powered proposed by it, TECNAVIA no one once we did this show it 100 to a local neighbor, so I crew as well,” Swan says. paniment. and accompaniment sug- thought anyone would was like I was back in have 600 for the show, “We’re also back at The The program features gests the rocking of a cra- come, but sure enough it church as a boy soprano. which is just enough. That’s Acorn Theater. We moved staples such as Concep- dle; and Steyer’s cabaret- was packed and it’s been There was this wonderful it. They normally make out to New Buffalo last cion’s “O Holy Night,” Gei- style song “The 12 Days like that ever since.” romantic feel of the com- 4,000 of them. So the squir- year and it was successful, ger’s “You’re a Mean One, After Christmas,” which Swan, however, is senti- munity and your church. A rels and deer were really but there’s nothing quite Mr. Grinch,” Cares’ “Santa opens with the lyrics: The mental about more than lot of people I think have teed off.” like the charm of The Baby,” and Moulton’s first day after Christmas/ just the program itself. The come to feel the same way. Swan doesn’t want to Acorn.” “White Christmas.” Other My true love and I had a first Christmas at TheChristmas doesn’t start un- leave the impression that he Joining Swan this year program highlights are full fight/And so I chopped the Acorn concert not only til this show so we have to was literally fighting offare sopranos Christine company renditions of pear tree down/And burnt it, kicked off his Harbor do it or else. It feels like deer for every last chestnut, Steyer and Emmanuelle Lo, “Hark the Herald Angels just for spite. Country Opera company, church – without all the but he did wrestle enough mezzo-soprano Martha Sing” and “We Three “It’s hard to get people to but it gave the holiday itself kneeling.” away to make sure “The Cares, tenors John Concep- Kings”; Concepcion and come out to shows this time back to the singer, producer Contact: [email protected], 932- Christmas Song” – and cion and Warren Moulton, Moulton teaming up for of year because most peo- and actor. 0364, Twitter: @HPBonfiglio those chestnuts – made it alto Dominique Frigo, and “Panis Angelicus”; Cares’s into Saturday’s program fellow bass Paul Geiger rendition of German com- along with his other annual staple, “Blue Christmas.” In fact, the program itself is One Stopp for Great Gifts! a kind of “best of” event. Swan pulled favorite tunes Spend Purely from each of the previous Michigan Money. nine seasons, as well as add- ing a couple of new entries, For every $25 spent, get such as “Carol of the Bells,” $5 Purely Michigan money which the entire company for your next shopping trip. will perform. 406 State St | St Joseph | 269-983-3300

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