One Man, Two Wives, Unlimited Laughs At The Station

by Rob Taylor

I have this really strange quirk. I have always had it and a lot of times it drives me totally nuts. That quirk is that I see sequels before I see the original. Now, it started when I saw Rocky 2 a year before I saw Rocky and it continues until this day. That is exactly what happened with Run For Your Wife which is currently playing at the Station Dinner Theatre. 

Last year I had the pleasure of seeing one of the funniest plays I had ever seen. 

It was a British comedy All An Act Theatre produced called Caught In The Net starring David Mitchell and Dave DiCola. It was about a man, John Smith, who was married to two women at the same time with a child from each marriage and his efforts to keep his families apart especially after his kids meet online and decide to start dating and it was freakin’ funny.

In this play it is 15 years prior to the sequel and John gets hit in the head with a handbag while he is stopping a mugging. He is rushed to hospital, which he gives the address where he lives with his first wife Mary (Cindy Willis) and he gives the police the address where he lives with wife number 2 named Barbara (Jennifer Blair).

Larry Lewis and P. Barry McAndrew play the two British CID officers who are sent to investigate the injury. The thing is the further they dig into the case and into John’s life the more they wish that they would have just skipped the whole thing. David Durst plays a reporter for a newspaper who gets the story that brings every little twist together.

Now, for the most part, this cast works together a lot and there is a strong chemistry between them that is easy to see. That adds so much to their shows. I watch them and, even though it is sometimes an opening night, their productions are pretty much always spot on and flawless. I wait for mistakes and flubbed lines and they are rare to say the least. I have only seen one in the last year and half I have been reviewing their work and even it wasn’t major…just funny.

There is a lot of homosexual humor in this play. It is spread out but there is a section of about fifteen minutes of it to be exact that is gut busting funny. The thing is it is not hurtful and I appreciate that. It is very funny as rumors that John and Stanley are sharing their love flat where John and Barbara live as their own little gay get-a-way. The rumors go to such an extreme that they convince Mary that Barbara is a man in drag named Lofty. If she was a guy in drag I just have to say one thing...HOORAY for drag queens!

That humor is why there is one actor who had a major role that I haven’t mentioned yet and, believe me, it is not for his lack of ability and that is Chad Santos. Last month I saw him in the Station’s musical Dick Clarkson’s Jukebox Hop where he played a macho “Fonzie” like character. In Run For Your Wife he is a complete opposite…to say the least. I hate to use the term but he plays a “Poof”. That is British slang for a very VERY feminine homosexual man. I have talked to Chad a few times and I know that I am going to get a letter from him on Facebook but by the end of the show I was seriously beginning to believe that he had pink lace thong panties on under his “daisy dukes”. Tinkerbell, watch your butt, there's a new "fairy" in town.

I went on a Saturday night and that meant, in addition to a good play, I had dinner to go along with it. The soup was good as was everything else but I just fell in love with the bar-b-qued ham, chicken tenders and sweet potatoes with spiced apples. As usual the meal was filling and was completely delicious. Maybe one of these days I will be able to actually meet the chef and tell him what I think but in all the times I have been there I have never seen the man leave the kitchen…well, maybe someday!

According to the Station Dinner Theatre website (www.canterburyfeast.com) a large number of the scheduled shows are sold out and I can understand why but there are still seats available on June 18 and 26 with limited seats available of June 27 and the 28. Now, this is a great play with a great cast and it is a play that should not be missed. I would like to suggest calling 814-864-2022 and see if you are flexible with dates you can get a seat…it would definitely be worth it.

See David...I didn't mention how sexy your wife is...now you figure out which one she is!!!!! :)

Counting Crowns Coming To The Erie Civic Center

What is the distance between Sunday and Monday mornings?

The answer, for Casting Crowns' Mark Hall, became painfully clear during an afternoon of reading through the MySpace pages of the kids in his youth group. Prompted to go there by a student, Mark's heart sank as he read their messages to the world, truths about themselves that didn't gel with the truth they embraced at church.

It was in that place of disheartened discovery where The Altar and The Door -- the third studio project from GRAMMY-winning band Casting Crowns -- began to unfold.

"When we're at the altar, everything makes sense," Hall says. "We know what we're supposed to do. We know how we're supposed to live. Everything's black and white. But somewhere between the altar and the door, when we leave and go out into our lives, it all leaks out, and everything gets gray again. The Christian life is the journey between the altar and door, trying to get the things you've got in your head, into your hands, feet, into your life. The Altar and The Door is all about the journey. The realization on the journey, the struggles and the victory of seeing it as possible."

Co-produced once again by Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown), The Altar and The Door taps into the same 'real life, real faith' vein as the Casting Crowns' 2004 debut and 2006's Lifesong. The same 'all out on the table' honesty, achingly real lyrical depth and unforgettable melodies that have captivated audiences around the world. Only this time, Casting Crowns -- the fastest selling, platinum-reaching Christian artist in history -- has never been more progressive musically. And lyrically, Mark Hall has never been more intentional.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he meditates day and night...."

"The whole album funnels from this passage," Hall says. "Imagine the man in this verse totally breaking down, but just a little at a time. First he's walking, then standing, and eventually sitting, just slowly shutting down. He doesn't crash suddenly -- there's no sudden crash in the Christian life. The 'crash' is just the fruit of a slow fade."

He continues, "If we find ourselves 'walking' in the counsel of the wicked, it's often supported by the things we're listening to, the things we're taking in, the things we're watching and clicking on. Sooner or later, what we choose to put into our lives affects us and starts coming out of our lives. Then we're not 'walking' anymore. Instead we become a walking contradiction. The way we live confuses the people around us, and that, to me, is how we find ourselves 'standing' in the way of sinners. If something doesn't change and we don't make a turn around, we're eventually 'sitting' in the seat of the scoffers. We find ourselves in the back row of the church watching everybody with their hands in the air, and thinking, 'Surely they don't have anything I don't have,' when in fact they do. And we don't even realize it, because the fade is so gradual."

The songs of The Altar and The Door strike a bold chord that the Christian life can and should be so much more than that. "When we have an ongoing, developing relationship with Jesus, life is not about me, my wants and my needs," Hall says. "It's about being the hands and feet of Jesus in other people's lives."

"Slow Fade," a surprise sonic feast (don't miss the flute!) -- marks the regression that happens when Christians aren't living intentionally. "People don't crumble in a day. You don't fall, you fade," Hall explains. "In your mind, there's that pride that says 'I'd never do that'... but you don't just do it, it's a slow, series of compromises, little ones that go there eventually, until you're sitting in a place you'd never go, doing something you'd' never do... and yet the way you're living totally makes sense to you somehow because you're so numb."

"I know you've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west And I stand before you now as though I've never sinned..."

In "East To West," Hall tackles the all-too-familiar skepticism with which we humans embrace forgiveness. "We have a hard time with the concept of forgiveness," he says. "We cut ourselves and it heals, but the scar remains. Sometimes we think God treats sin like we would if we were God, and that he handles forgiveness like we would. We know he forgives, but we can't accept that God chooses to forget and relinquishes his right to avenge."

And "Somewhere in the Middle," the lyric that poured out after Hall's disheartening afternoon on MySpace, reveals the acclaimed songwriter's lament. "Seeing the antithesis of what was being proclaimed at church and what was really going on with my kids didn't make me angry or frustrated. It just made me hurt for them and how stuck out there they feel and how they don't know what else to do but to try to fit in."

Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more, that line between the altar and the door...

In all honesty, he says, "It wasn't just about them. The end result in that lyric is my own lament that I could have a greater friendship with God, but I don't.... It's the frustration of my own life. Why in the world do I have to force myself to spend time with God. If I had an everyday friendship with Jesus, I'd be a better encourager, I'd be a better forgiver, and I wouldn't be as selfish as I am. ...God has blessed me with amazing self-awareness, a firm grasp of the obvious, but I don't always 'get' it."

It's this kind of honest intentionally that is the core of The Altar and The Door, Casting Crowns' most daring project to date. A collection of songs that dares to mark the distance between Sunday and Monday mornings, between the content of our heads, the content of our hearts and the disconnect between in between.

Tickets are $32.00, $25.00. Groups of 10+ receive a discount. Group tickets $20.00 each. Charge them at (814) 452-4857 or (800) 745-3000 or purchase them at the Civic Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets or www.ticketmaster.com. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. on June 20th

Not So Nice Jewish Girls Unite With Laughter

By Rob Taylor

On Monday night I wet down to the Presque Isle Gallery and Coffeehouse to see Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad. I thought that it was going to be funny but I never expected what I saw when I got there. They were funny, rank and totally off the wall!

First off, the place sold out. I mean there wasn’t a seat left even if you had ten times the ticket price to get in. This is going to sound like I am making a stereotypical remark but believe me I am not. It was verified when one of the comedians asked how many in the audience were Jewish that 90% were Jewish. The whole place erupted into applause and out of the one who applauded probably 80%+ were Jewish mothers or grandmothers. There were only six men in the crowd and an equal amount of the crowd were Christians.

The humor of the comedians ranged from the Jewish mother’s tradition of hoping and nagging her daughter to marry a “nice Jewish boy” to one of the comedians talking about touring Afghanistan to entertaining the troops. Her comment was that she “would have made the perfect hostage, a woman, an American and a Jew…a triple play” And lastly a very entertaining song about what Gifilte Fish is made of. She even had a sample that she tried to get people to eat…no one did but then again she never did tell us what it was.

They constantly said that they were there to tear down the stereotypes of Jewish women and that they wanted to get the Jewish, Non-Jewish and even those who hate the Jewish to come together, just hang out and have fun. From what I saw…they accomplished their goals with a lot left over.

I do have to admire Laurie Edwards, owner of the Presque Isle Gallery and Coffeehouse. It took a lot of guts for her to do something non-traditional and bring in a full blown comedy act into her business. Most other coffee shops have a guitar player, poets or a small band perform. Laurie took a step and from the crowd and the way the people enjoyed themselves it was the right step.

Personally, after this I cannot wait to see what she has planned for the future

Comedy Central Star Brian Regan Set For The Warner June 14th

Critics and peers agree, Brian Regan has distinguished himself as one of the premier comedians in the country. The perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality, Brian fills theaters nationwide with fervent fans that span generations.

Brian’s standard of excellence was set from the beginning. Watching such masters as Johnny Carson, The Smothers Brothers and Steve Martin, Brian was enthralled with the world of comedy and tried stand-up right out of college at a Ft. Lauderdale club an hour from his hometown of Miami. Touring the country constantly through the late 80’s and 90’s Brian won the 1996 American Comedy Award for Best Comedian, starred in two Showtime specials and performed on all the leading late night shows, including his life-long dream, “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” With his first appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” in 1995, Brian solidified his place on the show and has returned at least once each year since to visit Dave. He now includes regular visits to “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” on his schedule.

A dorm room favorite, Brian’s 1997 CD, “Brian Regan Live,” has sold over 150,000 copies and consistently charts in iTunes Top Ten Comedy Albums. Brian’s 2000 “Comedy Central Presents” special continues to be a viewer favorite and all of the energy of an entire Brian Regan live performance is captured on the 2004 DVD, “I Walked on the Moon,” which is available through Brian’s website.

Through prolific writing and tireless touring, Brian is the rare comedian to make the leap from comedy clubs to theaters without the exposure of his own TV show or film. It is the quality of his material, relatable to a wide audience and revered by his peers, which continues to grow Brian’s fan base. In 2005, Brian toured theaters in 40 cities and now he tours theaters in more than 80 cities each year. A perfect pairing of comedic excellence, Brian has starred in two hour specials for Comedy Central and released the specials on DVD.

Brian’s first one-hour special, “Brian Regan: Standing Up,” premiered on Comedy Central on June 10, 2007 and was recorded that April at The Barclay Theater in Irvine, CA. The “Brian Regan: Standing Up” DVD was released on August 14 from Comedy Central Home Entertainment. Brian’s second hour Comedy Central special, “The Epitome of Hyperbole,” was recorded at The Paramount Theatre in Denver on May 17, 2008 and premiered on Saturday, September 6 at 10:00 PM. The “The Epitome of Hyperbole,” DVD was released on September 9. For more information, please visit www.BrianRegan.com.

Tickets are just $36.50. You can charge them at (814) 452-4857 or (800) 745-3000 or purchase at the Civic Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets or www.ticketmaster.com.

Click on image for more information

PI Offers 2 Day Fishing Technique Class

The “Fish On!” program is a beginner Smallmouth Bass workshop offered to anyone 12 years old and up who are interested in learning how to fish and how to prepare fish for the table. Other important issues that will be covered include the benefits of eating fish and current fish consumption advisories. The program will focus on areas of Presque Isle bay.

This is a two-day workshop held on Friday June 12, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Saturday June 13, 2009 from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA. On Friday, the participants learn history, biology, current regulation, the importance of understanding fish consumption advisories, what portion of the population is most susceptible to fish tissue contaminates, the benefits of consuming fish and how to fillet and cook your catch. Also, learn about the gear and equipment necessary to catch Smallmouth Bass. Saturday at 7:00 am participants will meet at a location at Presque Isle State Park and try their luck for the Smallmouth. There is a fee of $20. Equipment is provided. To Register contact Brian Gula at 814-217-9632.

Pre-registration with payment is required to participate in this program. If participants are unable to attend the program the payment for program is non-refundable.

Whispering Lake Grove Summer Solstice Celebration

Whispering Lake Grove Summer Solstice Celebration (Brushwood Folklore Center, 8881 Bailey Hill Rd, Sherman NY 14781) 1:30 PM. Please plan to join the Druids of Whispering Lake Grove, ADF as we celebrate the Summer Solstice in Vedic tradition in the ADF Nemeton at the Brushwood Folklore Center in Sherman, NY on Sunday, June 14th with the ritual briefing beginning at 1:30PM. For driving directions please visit the Brushwood website at: http://www.brushwood.com/home.htm

A few details regarding the celebration: 

We will be holding an ADF ritual in Vedic tradition in honor of Agni, the Vedic God who literally is fire. All guests are welcome to plan an offering for Agni in the form of poetry, song, stories or a physical offering to be given during the ritual. Note: if you plan to bring a physical offering to Agni, please make certain it is burnable. 

Following the event we will be having a simple picnic style potluck (sandwiches, chips, things that don't require cooking etc). 

For additional information regarding this event, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at: carrionmann@aol.com. Check out the Whispering Lake Grove web site at http://www.whisperinglakegrove.org

2009 Pride Erie Picnic on June 13th

17th Annual Pride Erie Picnic

Once again, the Pride Erie Picnic will be held at Presque Isle State Park at the Rotary Pavilion. It is being held the SECOND Saturday in June (June 13) and we will run from 1 PM to 6 PM

You can now register online before the event and not have to fill out the paper registration form when you arrive! We will have a hard copy of everyone who registered online, so all that you have to do is give us your name. Easy!

We are again at the nifty Rotary Pavilion, which is close to the 3 cabins near the Waterworks Beach. Photos of the site are here. There will be signs at the park for the location.

The location has electricity, a small kitchen with a cooler, a large dining area, restrooms in the same building, and a lovely floating pier nearby.

Please stop at the check in table when you arrive! (Note: this will be quicker if you register online before the event, but you still need to stop at the check in table so that we know that you have arrived.) We will have labels/dots so that we can count how many people attend. This helps us plan for the following year, and helps us answer how many people attended. We will have name tags to wear rather than a dot, if you like. You can use your first name, full name and/or screen name if you choose to wear a name tag. If you have friends that you know in chat rooms, etc, this is a good way to connect faces to online names.

Beverage and some entrees will be provided. Please bring a dish to pass. Paper plates and plastic silverware will be available. Donations gratefully accepted. Food will be served from 2 to 4 PM.

We will also have door prizes, so be sure to fill out the registration form at the check in table to be in the drawing. This has been very popular.

In addition to the Family Portrait and other photos of those enjoying the day (for those who wish to be photographed - just fine if you don't!), we will also have an area set up where you can have a face photo taken for the Friends and Supporters page at this website. This is purely voluntary. We do think it makes a powerful statement to see the smiling faces of so many people. 2005 was the first year that we did this, and we had about 60-70 people who wanted to have their photos taken for the Friends and Supporters page.

As always, straight friends and families are most heartily welcome. Feel free to bring your children or parents, but parents are responsible for taking care of their kids. (There is playground equipment near the pavilion.) We will have children's activities this year.

We'll begin at 1 PM with games, (including the perennial favorite, volleyball, as well as others). We will have a photographer who will be taking photos. You can be in photos or not, as you choose. If you would like to have your picture taken, please don't be shy about asking! If you do not want your photo taken, please be sure that you are wearing one of the colored dots available at the registration table. We are trying to balance those who enjoy being included in photos and those who prefer not to be included. We will be including the photos on Erie Gay News' home page and in an upcoming print edition. All past events (including Pride events and more) for which there are photos have galleries listed here.

We are still in the planning stages, but we would like to have a return of the very popular karaoke/talent show that we had in 2008.

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, roller blades and sunscreen. Volunteers are asked to help with clean up, cooking and set up. If you would like to volunteer, contact Michael Mahler at (814) 456-9833 or email info@eriegaynews.com.

If you want to be on the Pride Picnic Organizing Committee, sign up here. We'd love to have you involved!

We will also have several thank you cards for our sponsors on the info table. Please sign all cards so that the people and businesses who help us know how much they are appreciated.

If you are not on the email list or want further information, we also ask that you use the sign up sheets that are also at the info table. We want you to help keep everyone informed!

Because of state law, alcohol and sales by outside vendors are not permitted. Please respect this. If you bring alcohol, or are obviously drunk, you will be asked to leave the picnic.

Food Bank Donations

As we did previously, in addition to the potluck buffet, we will also be collecting nonperishable items for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. For more info, click here.