For the Antigo Times

The Wabeno Area Players and the Essenhaus, in downtown Wabeno, are excited to entertain audiences with the fast-paced and hilarious, Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah. There will be five performances of the show. The dates of this much anticipated dinner theater are:  August 24, 25, 26, 27,  with dinner served from 5:00-6:30PM and the show at 7:00PM; for the matinee on Sunday, August 28, the lunch will be served from 12:00-1:30PM, and the show will begin at 2:00PM. Reservations are required, and seating is limited, so please call 715-889-1179 to reserve seats.

Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah, written by Allan Sherman, is a live-wire comedy musical that strings together many of Sherman’s parody songs to tell the story of Barry Bockman, a nice Jewish-American man.  The musical is a journey through Barry’s life from birth to old age.  It is the love story of Barry, played by Joshua Jameson, and pretty Sarah Jackman, played by Kimberly Odekirk. Sarah is Barry’s first love and best friend. Their connection starts as infants and travels through school, summer camp, marriage, parenthood, suburban life, and old age.

Amusement and over-the-top wackiness is brought on by the many characters in the lives of Barry and Sarah.  Three other actors, Ray Appel, Carol Bartlein, and Bob Brown will be challenged by quick costume and personality changes as they play such characters as Barry’s in-laws, neighbors, classmates, teachers, wedding crashers and many more. There are scenes that promise to leave the audience convulsed with laughter.

Most of the songs are side-splitting parodies that speak to everyone. The most well known is the title song, set to the tune of Ponchielli’s Dance of the Hours, where Barry writes his woeful letter home from Camp Granada. Other laugh-out-loud songs include: Harvey and Sheila, sung to the tune of Hava Nagila by Sarah’s parents at her wedding, Grow Mrs. Goldfarb sung to Glow Worm about a wife with an endless appetite, and Shine On, Harvey Bloom, to Shine on Harvest Moon, and Sarah Jackman, to the tune Frère Jacque.

The musical is under the direction of Joshua Jameson.  Music director is Mary Ellen Keller.  She also is the pianist and is joined on percussion by Dale Keller.  Costuming the show are Wendy Richards, Linda Harter, and Linda Boatright.

This will be a special show for the actors and the community because it will be the last performances by the Wabeno Area Players at the Essenhaus.   Tim and Connie Friesen will be closing the doors of the Essenhaus after Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah. The Wabeno Players are sad to see an excellent venue go; the WAP and Essenhaus connection was a phenomenal partnership.  With the help of the Friesens, the Wabeno Area Players blossomed into a growing non-profit community theater group, committed to providing quality live theater for the Northwoods.  This commitment will go on as the Players release their 2017 schedule in October.  They will be performing numerous selections at the Big Easel, but will also be branching out in other venues in the Wabeno area.

Please join the Wabeno Players and the Essenhaus for Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah!  Make reservations today. The dinner theater is $30.00 per person.  Call 715-889-1179. The show, for all its slapstick, is something to write home about!