This Phoenix Theatre comedy delivers a divine amount of laughs
Thursday, February 16, 2012 | 2:56 pm
If you are scouting around for something to do this weekend, check out Lucille Ball at The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds.
Okay. It's not the real Lucille Ball. But watching the talented and red-haired Kayti Barnett on stage, you will be reminded of America's comic sweetheart.
Barnett gives an Olympic performance as Iris in the Phoenix comedy “Thunderbolts and Dunderheads."
The show focuses on Iris, the Goddess of Rainbows, who goes to the head office of Zeus to ask for a promotion but is faced with being downsized with a thunderbolt.
“Close your eyes,” Zeus says, “this will hurt a lot."
To save her job and her skin, Iris agrees to help the married Zeus make time with a visiting Valkyrie.
Barnett's Iris is totally a hoot to watch and her goddess-like comic timing and mighty control of her many, many lines makes this a must-see production.
In his director's notes, Jay Irwin compared the “Thunderbolts” to watching an “I Love Lucy” episode with Iris and her friend Erronyus trying to keep all the balls in the air and Iris, a.k.a Lucy, playing the quickest brain in the room.
“It's a pleasure to watch her mind work,” Irwin said.
So true.
And in the end, Iris pieces together the surprising twist at the core of this comedy with the skill of a sorcerer. Watching Barnett skillfully wrap up the story, I responded with a little bit of awe and a lot of “Ahhhh!”
If Barnett is Lucille Ball here than Erronyus – God of the Miscellaneous, Forgetfulness and Awkward Silences -- is the Jerry Lewis character.
Actor Scot Garrett pulled this off with superb aplomb, playing this goofy god with all arms and legs and black-rimmed glasses.
Barnett and Garrett are two veteran performers. Barnett attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Garrett has 27 years stage experience under his belt – which he wore hilariously over his costume which looked like an over-sized nightshirt.
Though these two were the stars of the show, Barnett especially, the rest of the cast delivered divine performances.
Ted Adams was a deliciously deceiving Hermes; debuting actor Christian Ver – hopefully he will perform at the Phoenix again – seemed to have almost a superhuman set of lungs as Zeus; Zanne Gerrard was stunning as Zeus' wife Hera; Renee Gilbert was lovely as Valkyrie and, for his short time on stage, Craig Matthews was quite funny as Hades.
"Thunderbolts and Dunderheads" plays at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 26 at The Phoenix, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds.Tickets are $18.20 and $15.50. Call 206-533-2000 or online at Brown Paper Tickets.
Okay. It's not the real Lucille Ball. But watching the talented and red-haired Kayti Barnett on stage, you will be reminded of America's comic sweetheart.
Barnett gives an Olympic performance as Iris in the Phoenix comedy “Thunderbolts and Dunderheads."
The show focuses on Iris, the Goddess of Rainbows, who goes to the head office of Zeus to ask for a promotion but is faced with being downsized with a thunderbolt.
“Close your eyes,” Zeus says, “this will hurt a lot."
To save her job and her skin, Iris agrees to help the married Zeus make time with a visiting Valkyrie.
Barnett's Iris is totally a hoot to watch and her goddess-like comic timing and mighty control of her many, many lines makes this a must-see production.
In his director's notes, Jay Irwin compared the “Thunderbolts” to watching an “I Love Lucy” episode with Iris and her friend Erronyus trying to keep all the balls in the air and Iris, a.k.a Lucy, playing the quickest brain in the room.
“It's a pleasure to watch her mind work,” Irwin said.
So true.
And in the end, Iris pieces together the surprising twist at the core of this comedy with the skill of a sorcerer. Watching Barnett skillfully wrap up the story, I responded with a little bit of awe and a lot of “Ahhhh!”
If Barnett is Lucille Ball here than Erronyus – God of the Miscellaneous, Forgetfulness and Awkward Silences -- is the Jerry Lewis character.
Actor Scot Garrett pulled this off with superb aplomb, playing this goofy god with all arms and legs and black-rimmed glasses.
Barnett and Garrett are two veteran performers. Barnett attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Garrett has 27 years stage experience under his belt – which he wore hilariously over his costume which looked like an over-sized nightshirt.
Though these two were the stars of the show, Barnett especially, the rest of the cast delivered divine performances.
Ted Adams was a deliciously deceiving Hermes; debuting actor Christian Ver – hopefully he will perform at the Phoenix again – seemed to have almost a superhuman set of lungs as Zeus; Zanne Gerrard was stunning as Zeus' wife Hera; Renee Gilbert was lovely as Valkyrie and, for his short time on stage, Craig Matthews was quite funny as Hades.
"Thunderbolts and Dunderheads" plays at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 26 at The Phoenix, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds.Tickets are $18.20 and $15.50. Call 206-533-2000 or online at Brown Paper Tickets.
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