Antonia Lassar and Maria Gilhooley (Photo by: Keke Brown)

These days, say “Tina and Amy” and immediately a comedic pair pop into your head – no last names or context necessary.  No “Tina Fey from …” or “You know, they hosted the …” Yeah.  None of that.  Which, of course is exactly why all funny little girls with funny little best friends now have a gold standard to strive for the way boys throughout the ages had in, say, Laurel and Hardy or Abbot and Costello or Lewis and Martin … or the endless boys club duos who have followed.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler certainly aren’t the first funny women in history – not by a long shot. Their careers were made off the backs of comic geniuses such as early TV pioneers like Lucille Ball and Gracie Allen.  But countless women on SNL who weren’t Gilda Radner or Jane Curtin could point to post-Saturday Night careers littered with bit parts, long dry spells between roles, and blank looks at the mention of their names. (Ellen Cleghorne anyone? Melanie Hutsell? Nothing?)  So Tina and Amy are more than just two funny women.  They’re astronauts.

Before they slipped the surly bonds of earth, however, Tina and Amy were just two funny gals with the same issues and “isms” and fears and dreams that any other girls have before their lives fully unfold.  In SixTee Collective’s  Tina and Amy: Last Night in Paradise Antonia Lassar and Maria Gilhooley play fast and loose with the truth in order to present their dream version of what it must have been like for these two comedic icons on their last night together before Tina Fey (Gilhooley) went to New York to write for Saturday Night Live leaving her bestie, Amy Poehler (Lassar) to fend for herself.

When we first come upon Tina and Amy they’re hosting the Golden Globes – hilariously – and in their living room.  It’s both a seemingly typical exercise as well as a stall tactic to keep Tina from getting to the immediate task at hand: packing and getting the hell out of Chicago so that she can go begin her career at SNL.  Amy has no such offers. The rest of the show is a push and pull as Tina works to get her clothes in the suitcase, her ducks in a row, and her butt out the door in time to make her flight that will take her to her new life. Amy, on the other hand is doing everything in her power to knock this plan off track. She insists on finishing a sketch the two began a long time ago and Lassar’s delivery is winning.  Gilhooley is also perfect as an over-stressed, nervous, excited Fey – tempering everything with just the right mixture of anticipation as well as wistfulness for the moments she can already see becoming unimportant.  This is a fine line to play – for both actresses – and the chemistry between them as well as their devotion to the piece brings out many shining moments that work extremely well.

What Tina and Amy showcases is the fear of a friendship falling apart when one half of a dynamic duo moves on and the other doesn’t.  ”Moving on” can mean different things: a partner, a family, or a writing gig at SNL, but when one woman gets it and the other doesn’t it threatens the synergy which has worked so well for so long.   So, call it Tina and Amy or call it Antonia and Maria, the subtext is “don’t stop remembering how much you care about me.  Together we are better than we are apart.  Together we’ll do great things”.

Under co-creator Nikki DiLoreto’s direction Gilhooley and Lassar haul out every dream vehicle they can drum up in order to experience the joy of channeling their role models while simultaneously parading out their own comedic chops.  And since this entire play is fictional every thing is fair game.

This does not always service the plot, however.

Despite the obvious talent of these two finely funny actresses who can turn from hilarious to heartbreaking on a dime, the production suffers when their real friendship is explored in a ‘halt-the-show’device. While this explains their connections to the story line, gives us a peek into their back-story and allows us a moment to interact with them personally, this isn’t something that couldn’t have been dealt with in the program notes.  As it stands currently it completely breaks the pacing taking the audience out and then dropping them back into Paradise a bit too abruptly. Is the story of Lassar and Gilhooley an important one? Perhaps. However fleshing it out a bit more and dropping it in at other junctures might make it less of a non sequitur, though that might mean foregoing some of the (albeit fictional) story of Tina and Amy. Nevertheless, It would deepen the story of these two women who easily could be their successors – so famous that one day they do not need last names.

So while this show may have been Tina and Amy’s Last Night In Paradise I don’t think by any means it’s the last we’ll see of Antonia and Maria.

~~~

Tina And Amy: Last Night In Paradise
Company: SixTee Collective
Directed by: Nikki DiLoreto

Remaining Performances:
Mar 07, 10:15PM
Mar 08, 6:50PM

Click HERE for tickets

Running time: 1 h 0 min
Price: $10.00 – $16.00
Seating: General Admission

UNDER St Marks
94 St Marks Place
New York , New York 10009
1st Ave and Ave A

Horse Trade Theater Group will present the 8th Annual FRIGID New York Festival at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4^th Street between 2^nd Avenue and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1^st Avenue and Avenue A) February 19-March 9. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling 212-868-4444. 

Related Posts:

• Tina And Amy: Last Night In Paradise: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• THE CANUCK CABARET (2014 Frigid New York Festival)
• Double Happiness: A Tale Of Love, Loss, And One Forever Family: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• The Terrible Manpain Of Umberto MacDougal: The Total Package Of Manpain (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• The Dirty Blondes Talk About SEX

One of the best things about the Frigid Festival as a whole is how innovative, experimental, unfiltered and uninhibited it is.  But that’s nothing compared to what happens each night, for while the last show of the evening is taking its bows, UNDER St. Marks gears up for its traditional midnight show.  For five years now there’s been no greater testament to the wealth of talent that gathers for the festival than The CANUCK CABARET which is – yes – a Cabaret but also a bawdy playground where talented performers from Canada and parts south (that would be the good ole US of A to you and me) get an opportunity to congregate in that 45 seat theatre we love after all the FRIGID hub-bub of the day is over.  There, performers and audience and anyone who wants to be there, can experience some amazing performances, and in general just have a blast.  The good news?  There are still a few more midnights to go … The Cabaret is still at full tilt and you’re invited!  The bad news?  After a great 5 year run this is the last year for these Canadians so miss this now and you’ll miss it FOREVAH.

To review the show I saw and then tell you that your experience will be the same is kinda pointless – as well as besides the point.  One doesn’t go down those rickety stairs with a playbook – nor would you want to.  It’s the unexpected, the serendipity of specific audience melding with specific performers that make the magic that you experience. Hell, there’s not even a set running time.  Just arrive at midnight and surrender yourself to the river of performance that will flow.

Paul Hutcheson [photo credit: KL Thomas]

Two things are constant however: the bar IS always open and the show IS always hosted by the appealing comedic performer Paul Hutcheson who takes care of warming up the crowd, giving introductions and keeping the whole thing moving. I just wanted to convince him to move to NYC so that we could see more of each other – that’s how much fun Hutcheson is, not only as host but as performer — and if his stand up is to be believed then that’s how much fun he is as a person, period.  I think the New York scene needs a few more Paul Hutchesons.

Sharon Nowlan [photo credit: KL Thomas]

Revving up the crowd and starting things off RIGHT was Sharon Nowlan who did a little burlesque – Canada style. Which – according to me means lights turned down low while she swirled glowing things in the air.  With perfectly placed maple leafs (yes I said “maple leafs”) she charmed not once, but twice and her closing number (almost 2 hours later) was as delightful as her first performance.

Chris Wilson [photo credit: KL Thomas]

Chris Wilson who is from  Toronto got the crowd going with a skit involving a coach taking over a health class for the day. Things get a little twitchy when anonymous questions like “what is love” and other sex-related queries are answered with sports metaphors.

Fay Slift – The Ladybearextraordinaire – was decked out in full tutu, wig and glorious beard. Fay’s first number took the crowd soaring through a pop landscape but later on the audience was on its feet (or at least bouncing in its chair) as Fay raced about in a whole new ensemble – all foam hair and Minnie Mouse hands and perfect “are you gonna stay the night” eyelash batting. Yes, Fay! Yes! We WILL

Matt Panesh – Monkey Poet - was there in all his tall loveliness with that amazing accent pouring out of him.  He gave his background which had a little Liverpool smashed in with a little Manchester and so much more – all I can say is listening to him recite his poetry is something to behold.  I’d seen him all day at the Kraine handing out flyers and was already smitten – seeing him perform did not disappoint.

CJ Sawchyn [photo credit: KL Thomas]

CJ Sawchyn (Steve Nuggett) of the notorious musical sketch company THE SPECIALS, was there doing something so brilliant it’s impossible to describe.  Suffice to say this guy makes Keith Richards look like your grandmother’s canasta partner.

Antonia Lassar (who is one half of the FRIGID show TINA and AMY) was there with her super good friend (and kissing buddy – and ovary smasher)  Artem Yatsunov (director of BASIC HELP). First of all, seeing them together made me understand why they were so sweet together in their 10 THINGS TO KNOW interviews. Ahh! So obvious. Secondly, seeing them together was just great fun – they sang songs while Antonia strummed the ukulele and told a story that involved a trip to the emergency room after an incident involving (yes, you guess it) Antonia’s ovary. Let me say right now – since seeing this show I have sung the phrase “Big dickery” more times than I can count. That’s the way to do it A&A. THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT.

Jillian Thomas [photo credit: KL Thomas]

Jillian Thomas – originally from Canada but recently moved to NYC after marrying a man who heckled her – not only did some great stand up that illustrated her comedic chops, but she told even MORE stories about host Paul Hutcheson involving a live sex show that made me envy her a little more.

Una Osato, a performer I’ve enjoyed for her work in prior FRIGID shows (notably JapJAP) didn’t disappoint as she took to the stage in a giant Orca costume and swam to that Free Willy song slowly shedding her costume until she was in all

Una Osato [photo credit: KL Thomas]

her glory – save for pasties and a thong –  celebrating her sweet parts, even those that jiggled – and as the audience cheered and urged her on she jumped high into the sky (or as high as the basement ceiling of USM will allow) and let those babies (or do I mean boobies?) fly free.

Rebecca Parry [photo credit: KL Thomas]

Rebecca Parry of the Frigid show Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl was there too – wooing the crowd with some songs from Suzy Snowflake Entertains The Troops and her red hair and red dress and red-hot number proved that this firecracker from Canada is more than just a pretty shade of claret – she went down as smooth as a fine burgundy.

By the time Paul Hutcheson and Sharon Nowlan were back to do one final closing number that involved fans and flutters and a Pink ballad I was all teary eyed for this Cabaret. In a city that never sleeps this show comes on at prime time. So take the next few available midnights and spend them at UNDER St. Marks where you’ll be treated like an old friend. Do it before they’re gone forever.

~~~
THE CANUCK CABARET
Hosted by: comedic performer Paul Hutcheson

Remaining Performances:
Mar 06, 12:00AM
Mar 07, 12:00AM
Mar 08, 12:00AM

Running time: 1 h 0 min
Price: $5.00

Seating: General Admission

UNDER St Marks
94 St Marks Place
New York , New York 10009
1st Ave and Ave A
2nd and 3rd Ave

Horse Trade Theater Group will present the 8th Annual FRIGID New York Festival at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4^th Street between 2^nd Avenue and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1^st Avenue and Avenue A) February 19-March 9. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling 212-868-4444. 

Related Posts:

• THE CANUCK CABARET: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Tina And Amy: Last Night In Paradise (2014 Frigid New York Festival)
• Almost A Genius (2014 Frigid New York Festival)
• Get STUPEFIED By Paul Hutcheson
• Dandy Darkly’s Trigger Happy!: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2016 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

Ten Questions. Ten Answers. And One Big Decision: Rock, Paper, Or Scissors?

Tina and Amy: Last Night in Paradise

Production Company: SixTee Collective

Before the fame, before the glory, before the drunk texts from Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were really broke. One uncomfortable night in 1997, Tina and Amy are struggling to write the perfect sketch. From the creators of the Frigid Festival 2013’s Best Show, comes this super true, totally not made up story about two iconic women of comedy.

Show Times:

• Thurs 2/20 @ 7:05pm
• Sat 2/22 @ 3:40pm
• Sat 3/1 @ 3:40pm
• Fri 3/7 @ 10:15pm
• Sat 3/8 @ 6:50pm

Answers by Antonia Lassar
(co-creator and performer)

1. Your tag line is out there on postcards and press releases so we know the PR version of what this play is about.  But when you talk to your family and friends, how do you explain the show to them?

AL: We say that this play is about Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. And then we say, yep it is a play about everything you’ve ever wished for.

2. Here’s a scenario: After the show some audience members go have a drink.  What’s the part of the show you hope they’re discussing?

AL: First and foremost, we hope they’re talking about how we all look exactly like Beyonce. That’s really our biggest goal with all the work we do here at SixTee Collective. Also, we hope they are muttering about things like, “women in comedy”, “the struggles of the emerging artist”, and “are leggings pants?”

3. What drives your show – character, theme or plot?

AL: Our chauffer Rob. (ba-dum-bump).  Tina and Amy are the leading force of this show. Much like they are of the world. This play is largely about what it means to be women who want to be leaders of the world, and also be funny and stuff.

4. In rehearsals, read-thrus, or prior incarnations, what’s the one thing someone said about the show so far that made you (or the team) the most proud?

AL: “Look how many pages long it is!”

5. Let’s fantasize for a moment. Let’s take the “off-off” off. Imagine this show is on Broadway. Would that change the production itself?

AL: First of all, Tina and Amy themselves would be our understudies. We want to give them a chance for a big break. Also, the multiple nude scenes with George Clooney would be back in. We had to cut those scenes because Under St. Marks couldn’t handle the amount of oil we would requested.

6. Taking that one step further – after paying everyone what they’re worth of course, what is the most lavish, luxurious, pointless thing you would spend money on if there was no constraints?

AL: All our body lotion in the green room would actually be made of Bono’s performance sweat.

7. Is there a scene, a moment, a gesture … anything at all in the show that you anticipate may get a completely different reaction depending on the audience that night?

AL: So, there’s this one moment int the script that we’ve written as “eeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooyessssnowhataaaaaghorrrrganiiiiiiiiiicoooooooooooooooooooo
yyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssss”. And honestly, we’re just not sure what we mean by that. So, we’re hoping you’ll have some input.

8. What’s your favorite line from the show?

AL: “Not to sound all rabid, but I just feel like I hate water.”

9. Is the world of this play sustainable outside a theatre? In other words … do you think people live the way the characters do? Would you want a world where they do?

AL: Well, the world of this play is a world filled with junk food, low rent housing, and sex dreams about celebrities. It’s as close to an autobiography as you can get.

10. You scan the audience and you see a face that stops you dead in your tracks – who is it? And why are you shocked?

AL: George Clooney, why are you sitting in the audience??? Get back into the dressing room to prepare for your dance number! You are so late for actor call!!

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH

In the THM virtual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH which FRIGID Show do you take on? And what do you throw?

CHALLENGES:  We take on Basic Help because it’s a cast made of super models.

THROWS:  So we throw scissors like Tonya Harding.

Well, Tina And Amy you were challenged THREE times so far …

- THE CANUCK CABARET threw ROCK – that’s ONE LOSS for you
- East in Red threw SCISSORS – that’s ONE DRAW
- Drag Queen Stole My Dress threw PAPER – THAT’S ONE BIG WIN FOR YOU!

Congratulations, TINA AND AMY on your win! Stay tuned to see what Basic Help threw … since you’re One One and One for each, what happens there will determine your fate!

Thanks Tina and Amy: Last Night in Paradise for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2014 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially SCISSORS in any and all challenges.  You may win, you may lose – who knows! This is how it works in the crazy world of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH!

For the rest of you don’t forget to check out Tina and Amy: Last Night in Paradise !

~~~ 

  ~~~

Horse Trade Theater Group will present the 8th Annual FRIGID New York Festival at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4^th Street between 2^nd Avenue and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1^st Avenue and Avenue A) February 19-March 9. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling 212-868-4444. 

Related Posts:

• Chicken-Fried Ciccone: A Twangy True Tale Of Transformation: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Óscar Tango-Bravo: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• A List Of Irrational Fears For Future Leaders Of The World: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• MY HIGH-HEELED LIFE: Or, How I Learned to Keep Worrying and Love My Stilettos: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Gardai: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2014 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)