Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Bingo ????

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Scott B
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Topic: Bingo ????
Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:46pm

I seem to recall a show that is interactive with the audience about two gals or nuns playing bingo. I can't remember the name of it, though.

Anyone know what show I'm thinking of and if so ... is it any good??

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Topper
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Posted: 9/25/05 at 7:08pm

I believe the play you're inquiring about is called "The
Queen of Bingo."

And, in my opinion, no it isn't any good.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Chris Polo
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Posted: 9/25/05 at 7:09pm

That would be "Nunsense II: The Second Coming." Terrific crowd-pleaser at our theater -- standing ovations every night!

Chris Polo
Visit Community Theater Green Room Originals at www.cafepress.com/ctgr
"The scenery in the play was beautiful, but the actors got in front of it." -- Alexander Woolcott

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Scott B
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Posted: 9/25/05 at 10:00pm

It's Queen of Bingo ... I recognize the name. I knew I would as soon as I heard it.

I would LOVE to do some of the Nunsense shows, but I've got a problem finding the right people in our little community.

I guess I need to find some reviews of Queen of Bingo and see if it's as bad as Topper suggests. However ... usually I find the reviews of shows from the members on this site to be pretty "right on."

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Kathy S
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Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:03am

I will echo Topper's sentiment. Very bad script. In my opinion, not even worth the price of obtaining a reading copy. We saw a production of this with two men in drag and that didn't even make it funny. It's a turkey!

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Scott B
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Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:48am

Thanks ... got that impression from a review I read on-line earlier this evening.

Dang ... sounded like it had promise.

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circusfat
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Posted: 10/02/05 at 2:51pm

Hey all... I have to disagree with you about THE QUEEN OF BINGO. I saw an all EQUITY production of the show in CA about a year ago with "men in the roles" of SIS and BABE which I think is still on a national tour. I thought the show was wonderful. The actors played the roles true to life and forgot that these were men playing the roles. The show made me laugh and was quite touching. Being a woman of size I could really relate to BABE dealing with weight issues my whole life. And my husband who I had to DRAG to the show thought it was one of the funniest things he has saw in a long time. And my sister, Sharon won the 10 pound frozen turkey by winning the BINGO game halfway thru the show... they called it the "middle bird special". Here is a link for the review I found on the production I saw. :)

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/26/entertainment/the ater/7_21_0413_25_26.txt

Thanks,

Peggy

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MartyW
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Posted: 10/04/05 at 9:30am

I saw Q.O.B. a few years back at our state convention. It was just a 30 minute excerpt, but what we saw of it was cute..

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Guests
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Posted: 10/05/05 at 4:47pm

Peggy,

I saw the QUEEN OF BINGO at Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, WI last October. And Yes, men played the characters. I wonder if it was the same group that you saw in CA? This was also a Union production. I went with a group of ladies on a bus trip. And we all found it very funny and very amusing. Although I don't play that much BINGO I still found the show very entertaining and the direction was very good.

Judy

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Mark
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Posted: 10/05/05 at 6:59pm

Ah, "The Queen of Bingo" - this play seems to follow me. I saw the off-B'way version (with women) many years ago - the actress playing the older role, Carmen Decker (from the Boarshead Theatre in Lansing, MI) is a friend. The show was a dud with the critics and (as is so often the case) a crowd-pleaser with audiences (much like "Barbra's Wedding" another funny two-hander that the NY critics hated.) My take on that production was Carmen (the older sister) walked away with the show - very funny. The other actress was far too young for the role, she looked more like a grand daughter, PLUS she wasn't in the same league (acting-wise) as the brilliant Ms. Decker. The play as a whole was OK, I did laugh alot, but more for the performances than the writing (the script reads like crap.) Then I saw it again a of couple years later when I was rehearsing "A Christmas Carol" at Nebraska Caravan Theatre. It was playing at the Omaha Community Playhouse (where we rehearsed) with two real-life (African American) sisters - both VERY FUNNY, they played the sh*t out of it. THEN... frightening isn't it, another friend (an actor & DJ at a local radio station) in FL did it in drag at the Orlando International Fringe Festival and that was by FAR my favorite production. It was the same script in each case but it's clearly NOT an "actor-proof" piece of theater! I'd stay away from it,unless you have two genuinely funny actors (guys or gals) playing the roles and a good director who understands the "louder, faster,funnier" rule. On the plus side it's basically a table and 2 chairs, you can't beat that. LOL!

Mark F.

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Author	Message
Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Topic: Bingo ???? Posted: 9/25/05 at 5:46pm
	I seem to recall a show that is interactive with the audience about two gals or nuns playing bingo. I can't remember the name of it, though. Anyone know what show I'm thinking of and if so ... is it any good??

	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 9/25/05 at 7:08pm
	I believe the play you're inquiring about is called "The Queen of Bingo." And, in my opinion, no it isn't any good.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Chris Polo Admin Group Community Theater Green Room Joined: 10/01/03 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 166	Posted: 9/25/05 at 7:09pm
	That would be "Nunsense II: The Second Coming." Terrific crowd-pleaser at our theater -- standing ovations every night!
	Chris Polo Visit Community Theater Green Room Originals at www.cafepress.com/ctgr "The scenery in the play was beautiful, but the actors got in front of it." -- Alexander Woolcott
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Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 9/25/05 at 10:00pm
	It's Queen of Bingo ... I recognize the name. I knew I would as soon as I heard it. I would LOVE to do some of the Nunsense shows, but I've got a problem finding the right people in our little community. I guess I need to find some reviews of Queen of Bingo and see if it's as bad as Topper suggests. However ... usually I find the reviews of shows from the members on this site to be pretty "right on."
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:03am
	I will echo Topper's sentiment. Very bad script. In my opinion, not even worth the price of obtaining a reading copy. We saw a production of this with two men in drag and that didn't even make it funny. It's a turkey!
	IP Logged

Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:48am
	Thanks ... got that impression from a review I read on-line earlier this evening. Dang ... sounded like it had promise.
	IP Logged

circusfat Walk-On Joined: 10/02/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/02/05 at 2:51pm
	Hey all... I have to disagree with you about THE QUEEN OF BINGO. I saw an all EQUITY production of the show in CA about a year ago with "men in the roles" of SIS and BABE which I think is still on a national tour. I thought the show was wonderful. The actors played the roles true to life and forgot that these were men playing the roles. The show made me laugh and was quite touching. Being a woman of size I could really relate to BABE dealing with weight issues my whole life. And my husband who I had to DRAG to the show thought it was one of the funniest things he has saw in a long time. And my sister, Sharon won the 10 pound frozen turkey by winning the BINGO game halfway thru the show... they called it the "middle bird special". Here is a link for the review I found on the production I saw. :) http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/26/entertainment/the ater/7_21_0413_25_26.txt Thanks, Peggy
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 10/04/05 at 9:30am
	I saw Q.O.B. a few years back at our state convention. It was just a 30 minute excerpt, but what we saw of it was cute..
	IP Logged

Guests Guest	Posted: 10/05/05 at 4:47pm
	Peggy, I saw the QUEEN OF BINGO at Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, WI last October. And Yes, men played the characters. I wonder if it was the same group that you saw in CA? This was also a Union production. I went with a group of ladies on a bus trip. And we all found it very funny and very amusing. Although I don't play that much BINGO I still found the show very entertaining and the direction was very good. Judy
	IP Logged

Mark Walk-On Joined: 10/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/05/05 at 6:59pm
	Ah, "The Queen of Bingo" - this play seems to follow me. I saw the off-B'way version (with women) many years ago - the actress playing the older role, Carmen Decker (from the Boarshead Theatre in Lansing, MI) is a friend. The show was a dud with the critics and (as is so often the case) a crowd-pleaser with audiences (much like "Barbra's Wedding" another funny two-hander that the NY critics hated.) My take on that production was Carmen (the older sister) walked away with the show - very funny. The other actress was far too young for the role, she looked more like a grand daughter, PLUS she wasn't in the same league (acting-wise) as the brilliant Ms. Decker. The play as a whole was OK, I did laugh alot, but more for the performances than the writing (the script reads like crap.) Then I saw it again a of couple years later when I was rehearsing "A Christmas Carol" at Nebraska Caravan Theatre. It was playing at the Omaha Community Playhouse (where we rehearsed) with two real-life (African American) sisters - both VERY FUNNY, they played the sh*t out of it. THEN... frightening isn't it, another friend (an actor & DJ at a local radio station) in FL did it in drag at the Orlando International Fringe Festival and that was by FAR my favorite production. It was the same script in each case but it's clearly NOT an "actor-proof" piece of theater! I'd stay away from it,unless you have two genuinely funny actors (guys or gals) playing the roles and a good director who understands the "louder, faster,funnier" rule. On the plus side it's basically a table and 2 chairs, you can't beat that. LOL!
	Mark F.
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Topic: Bingo ????( Topic Closed)