Stage Preview: 'Off the Record IV' goes to the mat
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
By Anna Rosenstein
 |
 Martha Rial, Post-Gazette |
 |
John Roell, playing Myron Cope, and other
cast members rehearse the finale of the Newspaper Guild's satirical revue,
"Off The Record IV." Visible from left are Laurie Klatscher, Marylynne
Pitz, Samantha Bennett and Jane Vranish.
WHEN: 8 p.m. tomorrow; 6:30 p.m. free appetizers and cash bar. TICKETS:: $20, $40, $60; 412-456-6666. |
In the left corner, wearing environmentally friendly natural fabrics and the traditional holier-than-thou liberal smirk, weighing in at -- well, that's nobody's business -- you know her, you love her, Lynn Cullen.
In the right corner, wearing red, white and blue and brandishing the Stars and Stripes with the smug confidence of ownership, weighing in at considerably more than his opponent, you know him, you -- OK, you just know him -- Fred Honsberger.
Get ready for the two to go head-to-head in the biggest battle to hit the 'Burgh, the "Talk Show Smackdown!" otherwise known as "Off the Record IV," tomorrow night at the Byham Theater. At least, their satiric likenesses will duke it out in the persons of comic Lisa Dapprich and actor Tony Marino.
Dapprich and Marino are just two of the local celebrities and veteran performers who join Post-Gazette writers and editors in this annual lampoon of Pittsburgh politics, events and personalities. Also featured are such actors as Tim Hartman, Barbara Russell, Tim Brady, Laurie Klatscher, Nancy Mimless and Chuck Aber, all singing and dancing beside newsfolk. Ken Rice emcees, and Lynn Cullen, Bill Green and Chris Heinz -- all of them targets in the show -- get the final word with comic post-show rebuttals.
This year, "Off the Record" head writers Gary Rotstein and Dan Kamin turn their sharpened quills on the city budget, our sagging sports clubs and the inability of conservatives and liberals, city dwellers and suburbanites to just get along and be good neighbors.
Presented by the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists and the Newspaper Guild/CWA, "Off the Record" benefits the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank among other charities. In its first three years, the event raised $10,000, $13,000 and $25,000 for the food bank, and it hopes to exceed $30,000 this year.
The good cause keeps Aber, who has played Mayor Murphy in each "Off the Record," coming back. At the groundbreaking for the Pittsburgh Public Theater's cabaret space, former City Councilman Bob O'Connor pulled the real mayor aside and joked, "Chuck does you better than you do."
Not all of the performers have as much "Off the Record" experience as Aber. In previous years, E. Bruce Hill, who plays Bill Green, enjoyed relaxing as an audience member. "I'm not so relaxed this time," he said with a laugh. After rehearsing the finale and being put through the paces by director Mindy Rossi-Stabler, musical director Doug Levine and stage manager Jessica Haidet, who is as much choreography coach as stage manager, Hill said with a sigh, "Shakespeare's easier."
(Anna Rosenstein is a freelance writer for the Post-Gazette.)