Miss Sammy Bakes a Cake! is ostensibly a cooking show, but it harkens back to afternoon talk shows hosted by the likes of Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Dinah Shore. The atmosphere was cozy, the guests relaxed, and the stories from deep inside Hollywood.
But this time Sam Singhaus' beloved local character, Miss Sammy, is front and center. And that means the guests are drunker, and the stories (and props) are kinkier. Would Dinah Shore stir her cake batter with a vibrator?
As always, Sammy looks fabulous in a perky red wig and tight-waisted teal plaid shirt dress. She starts to bake a cake, and in true talk-show fashion guests stop by to plug their most recent books or recordings.
As Judy Garland, Mark Baratelli is uncanny and hilarious. Dressed in a black sequined mini-skirt like the ones Garland favored well into middle age, Baratelli's Judy is a talented mess andâ┚¬â€Âlike Garlandâ┚¬â€Âriveting. You can't take your eyes off of her.
When Garland falls to the floor, Sammy ad libs: â┚¬Å”We're just two old broads that won't quit drinking.â┚¬ÂÂ
Baratelli dusts her off in time to belt out a breathy â┚¬Å”Somewhere Over the Rainbowâ┚¬ÂÂâ┚¬â€Âwith word prompts needed throughout. Brilliant.
Happily, Baratelli's Garland will appear throughout Miss Sammy's run. Most of the other celebs are played by actors with their own Fringe shows who will drop in when scheduling permits. They include Carole Lee as Carol Channing and Ann-Margret, Danielle Hunter as Dolly Parton, and Jeff Jones as Satan.
Gidget Galore, a drag character created by talented Rich Kuntz, sends up Roseanne Barr, who's visiting Sammy to promote her new CD. Playing off Barr's disastrous handling of the National Anthem, Galore screaches â┚¬Å”You Light Up My Lifeâ┚¬Â and other sappy standards that continue longer than necessary. Joke played. Point made. Galore returns as Debbie Reynolds for a delightful duet with Sammy on Reynolds â┚¬Ëœ50s hit â┚¬Å”Aba Daba Honeymoon.â┚¬ÂÂ
Elaine Stritch was the final celebrity guest at this show. As played by Elizabeth T. Murff in signature oversized men's dress shirt and black tights and pumps, Stritch is befuddled and hilariously narcissistic. She thinks she's on The View â┚¬â€Ââ┚¬Å”Where's Whoopi?â┚¬ÂÂâ┚¬â€ to hawk her version of Eat, Pray, Love. It's called Drink, Swear, Bitch.
John Ryan is a charming diversion while Sammy changes into a pink polka dot cooking apron with nothing underneath. Ryan hawks a Chatty Cathy-like â┚¬Å”Sassy Sammy Dollâ┚¬Â that spouts 20 adult sayings. Later, he sings a coda to backstage opportunism.
Sammy also chimes in with an old-school testimonial for her cold cream product: â┚¬Å”â┚¬Â¦ when you need to get something messy off your face.â┚¬ÂÂ
The show proceeds at a quick pace carried by Miss Sammy's archly effervescent personality and obvious love of the business of show. The inevitable flubs are welcome opportunities for ad libs.
At the end, Sammy produces a cake with ingredients added by each of her guests. Like the show, it's clearly warped, but also clearly delicious.
Show: Miss Sammy Bakes a Cake!
Theatre Group: Kangagirl Productions
Venue: Silver
Remaining Performance:
5/28 Sat. 2:10 PM
