OUR LAGUNA: Poking fun at city’s foibles with flair

The cast and audience had a whale of a time at “Lagunatics,” which opened Friday at the Festival Forum Theater.

As always, lyrics by Chris Quilter and “Lagunatics” founder and director Bree Burgess Rosen showcase the foibles of the city. Nothing is sacred — from sewage spills to traffic fines, to the Pageant of the Masters. Even the city campaign to discourage people from responding to beggars by installing artist-designed meters for donations came in for a dig, appropriately set to Richard Rogers’ Depression Era plea, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” But missing this year — the ubiquitous goats.

Cue the whale.

“The Opera of the Phantom,” which closes the show, pokes fun at the rift between the City Council and the Arts Commission that opened when the council declined to approve the sculpture of a breaching whale as the art-in-public-places for the Community/Senior Center.

“It was a way to address divisiveness,” Quilter said.

But he was nervous about the number on opening night.

“It is the longest piece we have ever done,” Quilter said. “We condensed ‘Phantom of the Opera’ into nine minutes.”

Marine muralist Robert Wyland is revealed as the villain, an easy butt of a joke because he is such an institution, Quilter said.

“The key line is ‘If it’s got flukes, I have the copyright,’” Quilter said.

Arts Commissioners Nancy Beverage and Mary Ferguson couldn’t stifle their snickers during the number. However, Beverage’s favorite skit in the show was “Diarrhea,” because it was set to the music of “Mama Mia,” but she and artist Suzi Chauvel were both impressed with the tap dancing.

Paul Nygro choreographed the show for the first time since 2004, trekking down from Los Angeles where he hosts the live Fear Factory show.

“My specialty is tweaking the little things, the nuances,” Nygro said. “When you don’t have Broadway dancers, you gotta mug.”

Show tech staff member Sharon Walter had the task of keeping the dancers in the spotlight

Ferguson’s preference was the “Hard Hat” number about the Suzi Q Senior Center’s sub contractors.

Donna Gee, whose three children Ryan, Ethan and Vanessa were in the original cast of No Square Theatre’s “LagunaTots,” loved the “Blue Tooth” number because hands-free cell phones are such a big issue. Her friend, Deborah Klassen, enjoyed the ribbing the city took.

As might be expected, cast member and Arts Commission Chairwoman Pat Kollenda left no doubt which was her favorite: the finale.

“I loved it,” Kollenda said. “It gave me a chance to get back at Toni [Councilwoman Iseman, also a cast member].”

Despite a fall that required stitches in her leg, Kollenda tap-danced and cavorted her way though the show.

She also filled in for ailing Linda Martin on “Bummertime.” Martin had recovered by Sunday. A trouper, for sure, Kollenda may have been limping by the end of the evening, but “The Show Must Go On.”

The show goes on again this coming weekend, with a fundraising gala performance set for Sunday.

“Lagunatics” is presented by No Square Theatre, also founded by Burgess Rosen and dedicated to keeping alive the tradition of community theater in Laguna.

The 2008 Roast of the Coast features a star-studded cast of amateurs.

Among those listed in the not-to-be-missed cast notes — are fully crafted by themselves as bids for writing chops: Mayor Jane Egly, City Clerk Martha Anderson, City Treasurer Laura Parisi, Daniella and Danita Crivello, Realtor Rick Gold and Patrick Quilter — brother of the show’s lyricist and a regular on his ukulele at “Lagunatics” Open Mic Nite, the first Sunday of the month at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club. Show Musical Director Roxanna Ward also backs the singers at Open Mic Nite.

Carol Robinson holds the amateur record for “Lagunatics” performances: 14. Rufino Cabang (whose family was the long-time owner of the Royal Hawaiian restaurant), is next with 12 performances, starting with the first show in 1992.

Burgess Rosen holds the record, understandably since she created the show, but she needs special dispensation from the Actors Equity Assn. to perform without pay.

In truth, the show couldn’t be done without the volunteers, some of whom work as hard back stage as they do on stage.

Gregg Barnette, one of the prettiest “girls” in the de rigueur drag number, “I’m Not Gay,” also styles hair and wigs in the show. Stage manager/dance stenographer Ginger Hatfield pokes fun in her solo of the choice of Menton, France, as Laguna’s sister city.

Husband Randy Hatfield serves as production and musical coordinator and appears in several of the skits.

Connie Burlin, described as a recent graduate of the Sande St. John School of Community Service, worked in the box office and then slipped back stage to take her place in the chorus. She is also the No Square treasurer.

Non-performing volunteers Sharon Ashauer, Connie Margitan, Barbara Painter and Jheri St. James served snacks and desserts. Hans Scharer and Steve Spagnolo poured libations. Victoria MacBain handed out tickets and Anne Wood checked them at the door.

Bill Harris and Marion Rice directed the audience to their seats.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rose Hancock arrived late. She had attended the Heroes with a Heart Dinner in Costa Mesa at which Laguna Beach Police Officer John Falk was honored by TIP, the group that comforts families while their loved ones are treated at hospitals. (Mindy La Tendresse is the newest TIPer at South Coast Medical Center).

In the audience: Leslie and Laguna College of Art & Design President Dennis Power, Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. past Presidents Pauline Walpin and Louise Buckley, former Director of Public Works Terry Brandt, Friendship Shelter staff member Randy Kraft, John Younstead and his wife, Ket, a longtime Sawdust exhibitor, and Lee Childress, who created the MACY Awards for high school musicals and MACY Judge Gwen Morgan.

Also: Trudy and Bob Josephson, Diane and Dave Connell, Gary Beverage, Arno Chauvel, Joe Ferguson and former Laguna Beach Police Chief Neil Purcell, who escorted his daughter, Realtor Dani Purcell, to the show. Purcell now lives with his wife, Michelle, on a ranch in the “Big Sky Country,” where they raise horses, but the welcome mat is always out.

“Lagunatics” will be performed tonight, Saturday and Sunday’s gala. Tickets are $20 to $100. For more information, visit www.nosquare.org or call (949) 715-0333.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321; fax (949) 494-8979 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com