"Imaginary Friends" Review

"Imaginary Friends" by Cupcake Ladies Productions recently showed at Planet Connections Theatre Festival.

Opening the show and between each individual show, was Michael Rehse who helped narrate the shows and kept you entertained during set changes. Rehse managed to improv most of the show with little script in his head, in a very humorous and relatable way.

Rehse discussed things from your childhood like D&D (Dungeons & Dragons for those uninitiated). Using the biggest di I've ever seen, he rolled to see how much you'll like the show or not. That was a cute addition each time.

Michael Rehse narrating and improv-ing at the show

The first show up, "Toy Box" was about what was in Rich Wisneski's head and how he played with toys as a kid. It kind of tugs at all our 30-40 year old brains and memories playing with He-Man, comic book characters, and wrestling figures. His memories included mostly playing all figures as westling matches. The figures came to life before your eyes with Laura Mae Baker as Electra, Xavier Rodney as Jetspeed transformer, (that costume was amazing!!), Rehse as Power Ranger Jason Lee Scott, and a few others. I will take moment to say that the costume for Jetspeed was pretty amazing. It was well built with a lot of nice clean angles and a great paint job. Most everyday cosplayers I know couldn't make it that nice! Wisneski threw in some stop motion videos too and those were pretty good quality. I enjoyed them. The imagination of set building within the videos and such were creative, using things like encyclopedias for buildings and things that we as kids, would have actually done using all the props we could find around the house.

Laura Mae Baker as Electra & Rich Wisneski in "Toy Box"

Michael Rehse, Xavier Rodney, Rich Wisneski, and Laura Mae Baker in "Toy Box"

Laura Mae Baker as Electra & Rich Wisneski

Michael Rehse as Chalkboard Boy in "Toy Box"

Xazier Rodney as Jetspeed Transformer in "Toy Box"

Xazier Rodney as Jetspeed Transformer in "Toy Box"

Laura Mae Baker as Electra & Michael Rehse as Captain Marvel/Shazam in "Toy Box"

Michael Rehse, Xavier Rodney, and Rich Wisnewski in "Toy Box"

There was a scene with Baker as Electra and it dealt with the realities of being a woman action figure. Her knees don't bend, sitting down is a real issue, and she plops awkwardly into the chair butt first and hoping she doesn't fall too far back to tip over the chair. It was pretty funny! Electra discussed how every female action figure was basically the same mold but different paint jobs. And discussed why do all the lady superheroes have heels on? How are they supposed to fight crime in heels? Hehe

Baker did really well as Electra.

Laura Mae Baker as Electra in "Toy Box"

 Overall, the "Toy Box" was a really cute nostalgic piece on being a kid again. 

"The Woman With Asparagus Hair" was more of a short drama piece I'll say. Baker plays an unnamed woman who has a nightmare about making a film and how happy and proud she was of said film. But then the audience, in said nightmare, turned against her and hated the film of the "woman with the asparagus hair." It discussed the fears of being liked and accepted by your peers. Even being financially stable too. Baker showed some great acting talent in going from happy to worried to scared and back to humored in a matter of 10 or so minutes. 

Xavier Rodney & Laura Mae Baker in "The Woman With Asparagus Hair"

"The Case of the Absurdly Tall and Wholly Unnecessary Residential Tower in Queens" is about private detective John Putnam played by Rehse trying to find a woman's significant other, played by Melissa Farinelli. Putnam likes to narrate everything he is doing or everything that is happening around him, with very humorous outcomes or other characters just looking at him funny. The story itself is about how hipsters are taking over Queens and "gentrifying" it and how rents will go up. Which is a reality for much of New York City and the outlying boroughs these days. Wisneski's sarcasm was on point as he played the rich father in the scene. This show was reminiscent of the mystery noir I do love, but with more humor. It was fun to watch.

Michael Rehse & Melissa Farinelli

Rich Wisneski & Xavier Rodney

Michael Rehse & Melissa Farinelli

Michael Rehse & Xavier Rodney

"Breaking News: Live From Your Fragile, Fragile Psyche" was about being in a woman's head as she recalls her most recent but failed relationship. Brought to you like the 5 o'clock news broadcast, Farinelli's character goes from talking to the ego, the memory, the right and left sides of the brain, the conscience and to her emotions.Discussing each part of the relationship and the recent encounter with the ex. Farinelli stretched her talents in being the news anchor but then in reporting from each area of the brain via pre-recorded videos that she needed to keep up with. Playing all the characters, in different tones and attitudes was great. Reminded me of Tatia on BBC's Orphan Black and the diversity of that actor and seeing all the different types of roles and personalities one person can show off. It was a great use of media with the pre-recorded videos and using the broadcast news method.

Melissa Farinelli

Melissa Farinelli in two of many roles.

Melissa Farinelli as news anchor.

The "Horsey McHorseface" seemed like an odd duck. It is about imaginary friends but I felt it crude and maybe mean even. The story itself is about a guy with an imaginary friend who happens to be a horse. But the horse is mean to everyone and ends up getting the main character, played by Rodney, in trouble all the time. It reminded me sort of the Odd Couple in a way too. The horse likes to, for example, sneak up on another young lady and grab her butt. But since no one can see the horse, the main character gets socked in the face by said young lady. There is a turn of events where Farinelli comes into the picture, and we notice she also has an imaginary horse friend. Her horse socks Rodney's horse and the two get along great because finally, someone can see Rondey's imaginary friend. But the video was crude, not the best quality and the sound wasn't fantastic either, as I could hear a lot of background noise. It could be all this was intentional, but I am not sure. They interspersed these videos and continuing storylines throughout the evening, in between bigger set changes. Along with Rehse's improv and narration. 

Overall, the shows on the whole were interesting, fun, humorous, and well-done. I'd recommend seeing this if it comes around again. Great job to Cupcake Ladies Productions and Planet Connections.

The cast and crew