“I wish they would stop calling this the novel Corona Virus. If this is the book, I am definitely not watching the movie.” -Jen, ‘Quarantine, the Online Musical comedy.’
If there’s one thing that’s become obvious during this time of masks, social distancing, and Covid 19, it’s that humans will find a way to do almost anything. A perfect example of this is Pine’s Dinner Theatre’s “Dinner Theatre To-Go,” offered June 6th at 7pm and 8th at 2pm.
Pines Dinner Theater, a local establishment since 2009, is not only offering their delicious dinners for curbside pickup, but their shows to go as well. With an original book and lyrics by Jen Hope, Kristopher Holz, and Oliver Blatt, and original music by Stacy Bechtel and Oliver Blatt, Pines is bringing something new and fresh to your device screens-never before seen theatrical productions. Blatt‘s inventive direction and Bechtel’s music direction/orchestrations are fun, fresh, and lighthearted in a time when everyone can definitely use a laugh.
For just a few, well-spent dollars, you can purchase dinner to serve in the comfort of your living room, as well as a link to watch their latest production, ‘Quarantine, the Online Musical Comedy.’ It’s easy as pie. You purchase your tickets through their website, receive a code to enter the stream, and then you get to settle back and watch a show from the best seats in the house- your own living room’s front row.
Quarantine could not be more timely or more perfectly themed. Running at just shy of an hour, this brand new show features (by my count) six original songs and plenty of hysterical Covid-related banter. Though each scene’s actors were filmed separately, it’s seamless and easy to forget the fact that you’re watching a stream and not a live performance.
We are first introduced to Kate, hilariously played by Stacey Yoder, who manages to break up with her skummy boyfriend just before the shelter-in-place order is given. Left alone with her thoughts and not a lot else, she is (at first) completely optimistic. Though she tries to focus on herself and on moving on to newer things, being at home alone with her thoughts is quickly more than a little overwhelming. Yoder’s Kate could not be more endearing. It’s easy to feel for her as she flounders a bit in her efforts to adjust to being not just single, but completely alone. She’s an easy character to cheer for when she makes friends with her like-minded delivery driver buddy and eventually finds peace with herself.
Another quarantined couple is Karen and Wally, played by Karen Blatt and Oliver Blatt. We are all acquaintances with this couple, guys. Karen is petrified of Covid, insisting that Wally clean out the downstairs freezer in order to hold extra food, clean the garage, and order another vacuum just in case. Though Karen is convinced they could be witnessing the end of the human race, Wally is much more calm and simply does everything he can to satisfy her. Watching the couple work together and eventually settle down a bit is very realistic and easy to relate to. Though they have to cope with homeschooling, neverending jokes and questions from their kids, and trips to the grocery store in head-to-toe protective gear, they make it through.This couple is a lot of fun to watch play off of one another, and it’s easy to forget they’re reading prepared dialogue.
Rounding out our quarantined cast is Jen Hope and Kristpher Holz, playing hippie-ish couple Autumn and Apollo. At first, the couple is grateful for the time of seclusion, with Apollo intending to use it to find inner peace and Autumn deciding to use the time to fulfill a desire to learn things she’d never had time for, like yodelling or magic. Apollo quickly begins to grate Autumn’s nerves with his cooking habits, and Autumn causes her fair share of the couple’s frustration by spending countless hours instructing her mother on how to successfully use Zoom. The pair have a great dynamic and could not be more fun to watch together as they come just shy of calling everything off between them before settling into a mutually accepting happy ending. The musical sequence featuring they’re ever- increasing frustration with each other is a riot; it’s so fun to watch.
Sets are simple and effective, and the stage is lit as well as you would expect from a live stage production. The show is and easy blast from start to finish. The video quality is crisp and well-shot, the songs are catchy, and the talent is top notch and believable. This show touches on everything, from the anxiety associated with a first-in-a-lifetime quarantine to fighting with your significant other, to trying to re-invent yourself with the newfound free time, to Carol Baskin and Tiger King.
I can’t recommend it enough as a perfectly enjoyable way to spend an hour. Please consider supporting local theatre; it’s a great show, and parking is free. Everything is pay what you can. Dinner and the show request a minimum donation of $30 ,$6 is requested for the show link alone. For more information or to purchase tickets please call Pines Dinner Theatre at 610-433-2333 or visit their website at www.pinesdinnertheatre.com.