REVIEW: The Misfit Players (Sterling Playmakers)

Sterling Playmakers deliver laughs and warm fuzzies in Ellen Dean Price's The Misfit Players, a love letter to community theatre. If you have ever faced the hurdles of mounting a show in the face of venue, funding, or casting issues, this one is for you. And if you haven’t, you’re about to be inducted into the theatre world in a delightful way.

Alan Price Photography

On a crowded stage, level-headed Tessa (Victoria Jungck) enters alone. An energy buzzes around her. Her friend and snarky tech goddess Zayden (Liz Mykietyn) talks over the mic from the back of the house. One by one, the unwanted misfits of the local theatre community arrive, called by the allure of the theatre and by the flamboyant Wanda. Together they forge a new theatre troupe with a mission: to put on a show in almost no time with almost no budget that's so good it saves the theatre from being bulldozed.

The cast of kooky characters must work together to manage all production matters despite their shortcomings (even if they don't own up to them). YAM company member Nina Shields plays the diva Ainsley, the leading lady with just a few requests. Her crisp delivery made her flippant barbs land every time. The flamboyant Wanda is played with panache by Lesleyanne Kessler. Her larger-than-life character quieted for earnest moments with Tessa, the stressed producer, and Jack (Nick Koutris), the well-meaning director. Their energies complemented each other well, realistic and fanciful, especially with the everpresent snark from Mykieten. When the over-the-top cast of the pedantic Howard (played with warmth by Zachary Teich), the cheery but trying Donovan (played with glee by Kevin Humphries), the loud Wanda, and smirking Ainsley leave the stage, Jack and Tessa drop into a comfortable problem-solving. It's charming to watch their back and forth, trying to understand each other and absolutely missing the point, all while the problems keep rolling in. Not to worry, technicians Bob (Tom Lazo) and Ian (Brian Tepe) are ready to help—in their own hilarious but extremely earnest ways. Lazo and Tepe brought the laughs over and over, making them a crowd favorite.

The magic of the theatre comes alive as the design elements build throughout the story, transforming the littered stage into a full set (Glen Bartram), full of color and flair. The fun costumes (Allison Ball and Molly Hafner) were 80s glam and note-perfect from Ainsley’s stilettos and baby blue tweed to Bob’s low-slung tool belt. Pay special attention to in-play costumer Casey’s many outlandish costumes and coordinating comedic bits (played with delightful dedication by Jordan Cribbs).

This show is all about what it takes to put together a show and—even more importantly—how it brings people together. The writing (an original play written by director Ellen Dean Price) had a levity and fun that her cast met with joy. To witness a group of theatre people being the best kinds (and sometimes the worst kinds) of theatre people warmed the heart. They invited their audience in, hitting so many of those production hallmarks just right and in a way that any theatre people would recognize immediately and non-theatre people would understand readily. This is the type of easy storytelling that makes The Misfit Players such a cozy night at the theatre, perfect for the ardent fans and the newcomers alike.

The Misfit Players by Ellen Dean Price is performed by Sterling Playmakers now through March 8 at Sterling Middle School. General admission tickets are $18 and available online and at the door. (Say hi to YAM company member Jul who is the house manager for this production!)