The Happiest Medium Review by Guest Contributor Linnea Covington

If you have ever had dreams of your dolls coming to life and doing a sexy strip tease, this show is for you. Produced by two-time FringeNYC winning performer and playwright Cyndi Freeman with storyteller Brad Lawrence, both whom are burlesque performers, Scratch & Pitz Burlesque and Variety Hour proved a comical hour of pretty girls, awkward men, song, and a tantalizing strip-off between our heroine and the Devil. That’s right, the Devil. Played by Lawrence, who goes by Handsome Brad in the burlesque world, the Devil comes on stage dressed to the nines with the intention of garnering a few souls for his collection. What he didn’t reckon was facing off against Cherry Pitz, played by Freeman, a pink puffy-wigged aspiring variety show host who is a combination of Lady Gaga and Fran Drescher with just a splash of Jersey Shore.

The show starts out with the basic rules of burlesque, helpful hints for those who haven’t ever seen this type of show and might not know what to do. Just remember, as Lawrence belted out, “If you see something, say something.” After that the hoots followed and for good reason—the show is chock full of fun, sexy acts and the performers obviously were having a good time. Which brings me to the only thing off about the show – most of them looked like they were about to bust out laughing. Of course we did a few times but especially in the ventriloquist scene with BTK Band dancer Amelia Bareparts and Moth GrandSlam champion Peter Aquero. Hands down this was the best act as Bareparts played the dummy, guided by a fat, socially inept man who is trying to blossom through the power of his wooden doll. The scene runs so smoothly that while you know Bareparts is a real live girl, at times you can’t help but wonder.  Things take a turn for the naughty after the Devil enters the scene and our poor ventriloquist gets more than he bargained for. Thank goodness.

Other acts include a lion-taming bit (featuring Bareparts again) with Lucille Ti Amore. Mary Cyn got a turn as Cherry Pitz and the Devil’s daughter, which features a deviant dress change as daddy’s sweet little Chastity strips down to become mommy’s little Chaz ala the Bono family style. She might not look like a man in the end but Cyn sure looks hot in leather shorts, an outfit she sure didn’t sport in her ballerina days. The show is also peppered with acts by BTK Band’s Rory Scholl, a folk musician who belts out tunes about an abusive woman (or was that his guitar?) that treated him badly…hard to tell but either way hilarious.

As a producer and performer with Hotsy Totsy Burlesque, Freeman got into burlesque late in the game, about 10 years ago in fact when she was in her late 30s. Now 47, she displays the same pizzazz and energy as her younger counterparts but mixes in a sophisticated plot line. The narrative she and Lawrence  presented on stage not only proved whimsical and fun, but actually told a story. But don’t be fooled: it’s definitely a sweet, sassy, and sexy story.

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The 2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL will run February 22-March 4 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets to all shows may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

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

Scratch & Pitz Burlesque and Variety Hour

Company: Heroics in Hotpants
Directed by: Cyndi Freeman and Brad Lawrence

Cherry Pitz (Cyndi Freeman) and Scratch (Brad Lawrence) present a burlesque melodrama & variety show. Cherry wants to do a duet act like Sonny & Cher, Burns & Allen, or Captain & Tennille! In exchange Scratch wants Cherry’s soul.

Show Times:

• Thu 2/23 @ 10:30pm
• Sun 2/26 @ 7:00pm
• Wed 2/29 @ 10:30pm
• Fri 3/2 @ 4:00pm
• Sat 3/3 @ 8:30pm
• Sun 3/4 @ 2:30pm

Answers by Cyndi Freeman

(Writer/Performer/Director/Producer)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?
Cyndi: The Scratch & Pitz Burlesque and Variety Hour is a show about how the Devll “Scratch” offers Cherry Pitz her wildest dream in exchange for her soul. Cherry’s dream is to have a Variety show Like Sonny and Cher, Captain & Tennille. And this is the show!

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite five people, anyone from past and present, to see your FRIGID show – who would you invite and why?
Cyndi:
Sonny and Chery – Because they inspired this.
Captain & Tennille – Also Because they inspired this.
Cherry’s father Harry Pitz – It was his dream in the first place.
The Krofft Brothers – who shaped me in ways therapy will never correct.
Bea Aurthur – Because I sing part of her song from the Star Wars Holiday Special…and no one but me knows all the words.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for your Art and was it worth it?
Cyndi: I slept without a real bed for 5 years because whenever I had enough money to buy one I would put it to art projects instead. Was it worth it? Sure! Luckily I married my co-producer Brad Lawrence … he had a bed so its a moot point.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and, if so, can you share it?

Cyndi: Its really easy to convince Peter Aguero to get naked on stage….but we were not that surprised.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?

Cyndi: Permanent psychological scars.

SO CLEVER Cyndi!  I have no idea what Stripper Lesbians will throw but if you wind up winning you certainly soften the blow by tucking dollar bills into their g-strings.  Of course I’m sure the stripper lesbians wouldn’t have it any other way.

You were challenged by Love in the Time of Chlamydia who threw ROCK and that gives you a WIN!  So, a WIN and a wait-and-see … how’s THAT for variety?

Thanks Scratch & Pitz Burlesque And Variety Hour for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2012 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially PAPER in any and all challenges. You may win again, you may not – 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 Scratch & Pitz Burlesque And Variety Hour!

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When you were growing up, did you ever have characters from TV or film that you looked up to and felt that if you could be like them, you could do anything? Cyndi Freeman sure did, and she didn’t pick any run-of-the-mill hero…she picked THE woman…you know…the awesome chick in the invisible jet who could tie up any creep with her golden lasso and bounce bullets off of her groovy bracelets…all while wearing practically nothing in red, white, & blue. Wonder Woman: A How To Guide for Little Jewish Girls is part feminist hero worship and trivia; part life story of growing up more geek than hero with family dysfunction; and part tale of using the strength within to battle some of the scariest nemeses of all: life’s curve-balls.

Freeman, no stranger to one-woman shows and a regular performer on the theatre festival and burlesque circuit (the latter under the name of Cherry Pitz), opens up about everything from a gun-toting father going after an AWOL son – to the realization that our human mentors can be disappointingly human.

Insightful and heart-wrenching as well as hilarious, Freeman has a knack for making a connection with her audience and making them feel as if they’re having a private conversation with her. With each section of the show, you feel more and more intimate with Freeman; what starts out as an interesting history of one of the most iconic female figures of the 20th century slowly becomes a more introverted perspective on how Freeman’s life was shaped. Her flair for comedy and the outrageous intersperses with moments when she reveals current personal battles that can only be dealt with by sheer will, inner strength and the confidence in yourself that you learned from your TV heroes…or maybe a rejuvenating jaunt on Paradise Island of the Amazons.

If you didn’t have an opportunity to catch this wonderful show, you’re in luck! Picked as a Frigid Hangover, there is one more performance left.

Not one to miss!

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Related Posts:

• FRIGID New York Festival 2011 – Five Questions For: Wonder Woman: A How To Guide For Little Jewish Girls
• FRIGID Hangovers – I’ll Have Another Round! (FRIGID New York 2011)
• Scratch & Pitz Burlesque and Variety Hour – Seven Act Scratch (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Scratch & Pitz Burlesque And Variety Hour: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women In The Arts – Spotlight On Heidi Grumelot

Welcome back to another installment of FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A! We’ll be running these throughout February until the Festival starts, so be sure to check back to read all about the great shows that will be taking part in the festival. Also – don’t miss the winner-take-all game of Rock Paper Scissors! Today’s Q&A is with Cyndi Freeman who is the Writer / Performer of Wonder Woman: A How To Guide For Little Jewish Girls.

Two-time FringeNYC award-winning writer/performer Cyndi Freeman’s latest solo show traces her journey from little suburban Jewish girl obsessed with Wonder Woman to becoming the fabulous burlesque Queen, Cherry Pitz, in NYC. Join her on a crusade to right wrongs while wearing fabulous costumes.

Wonder Woman A How To Guide For Little Jewish Girls featuring Cyndi Freeman (Photo By Drew Geraci)

answers by Cyndi Freeman – Writer and Performer

Antonio Asks: What makes FRIGID such a warm and welcoming experience for your production?

The Staff at Horse Trade Theater Group. They are supportive, smart and incredibly capable people!

Diánna Asks: What about this play do you feel most drawn to personally, and because of that, what message do you hope the audience walks away with?

I wrote it, so the material is very personal. What drew me to the theme is my own obsession with Wonder Woman and a desire to know just why I never outgrew my love for this comic book character. There are many messages in the show. Mostly having to do with finding inner strength and how we go about developing it. I think each audience member will get something very personal out of it.

Karen Asks: That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?

I wanted a title that said exactly what the show was. I learned everything a young girl needs about being a woman from Wonder Woman…well almost everything.

Stephen Asks: You must have a favorite part of your show. What makes it your favorite?

The strip tease at the end because of the glittering underpants.

Lina Asks: How much of your show was inspired by true events?

The show is memoir, it is all true – well except for the parts where I talk about what happened in The New Adventures of Wonder Woman: Episode 2 “Fausta: The Nazi Wonder Woman”. I am pretty sure that part is fiction.

THM Bonus Question: If you could play a virtual game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with another FRIGID Show which show would you take on? And what would you throw?

We Might Be Experimenting On You. I‘d throw a polygraph machine – did you know that the polygraph machine was invented be William Marston – who also was the creator of Wonder Woman?

Thanks Wonder Woman: A How To Guide For Little Jewish Girls – for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially – well, now. I think you’re officially not going to win (cue sound machine that does the big AWWWWW sound).

Here’s the breakdown so far:

You’ve been challenged by:

Saving Tania’s Privates who threw SCISSORS.  Winner - TANIA’S PRIVATES!

FUNNY A trunk show who GAMED the system by waiting to see what you threw then threw SOMETHING BETTER.  Winner – FUNNY!

And You challenged We Might Be Experimenting On You who threw ROCK.  Winner – EXPERIMENTING!

DING DING DING!  This is how it works in the crazy world of the VIRTUAL ROCK PAPER SCISSORS TOURNAMENT!

Meanwhile, for the rest of you – don’t forget to check out Wonder Woman: A How To Guide for Little Jewish Girls!

Related Posts:

• Wonder Woman: A How To Guide For Little Jewish Girls – Being Verklempt Was Never So Much Fun (FRIGID New York 2011)
• FRIGID Hangovers – I’ll Have Another Round! (FRIGID New York 2011)
• Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women In The Arts – Spotlight On Heidi Grumelot
• There is No Good News – Laughing Until Your Sides Hurt (FRIGID New York 2011)
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