Stage Write

  Clue, the classic whodunit farce, kicks off Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre's 50th anniversary season. The mystery show takes the famous board game and film and turns it into a play. Each character is given a weapon and a motive and the murders begin. Eddie Curry directs the fast-paced production and keeps the actors as close to their movie counterparts as possible.  The cast reads like a who’s who of Beef and Boards' favorites including Suzanne Stark, John Vessels, Deb Wims, David Schmittou, Jeff Stockberger, and Sally Scharbrough. Audiences might also recognize a subdued Ben Asaykwee in a very different role than many of his other productions. Scot Greenwell particularly shines as the timid Mr. Green. For each cast member, the role plays to their individual strengths. Schmittou's impressive monologue explaining each of the crimes at the end is an absolute highlight.  The set is incredibly simple, a turntable with half a dozen doors perfec...

  Mary Poppins, the classic story of a practically-perfect nanny who comes to care for the neglected Banks children is on stage now at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. It’s a perfect show for families with young kids to enjoy. Statues come to life and kites are flown as the characters learn the timeless lesson of remembering what’s truly important in life.    The title role is played by Cara Statham Serber with just the right balance of steely reserve and cheekiness. She’s a calming foil to the blustering Mr. Banks. The musical production differs from the original film version in many ways, but the heart of the story is the same.    After seeing the touring Broadway show it’s hard to ignore that the big dance numbers are missing something on a small stage. The ensemble cast does a great job, but there’s only so much they can do with a song like “Step in Time”, which is traditionally a huge tap performance with two dozen dancers. The same is true for some magical ...