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Risqué business — Merely Players aims to spice up theater scene

3/17/06

by Renée Beasley Jones
Messenger-Inquirer

Handcuffed to a folding chair, Matt Hedges sits with his trousers bunched up around his ankles. His necktie becomes a playful blindfold. His light blue oxford shirt flaps open, exposing his belly — all the way down to his off-white boxers.

A woman, the same one who blindfolded him, straddles his lap and kisses him softly. Then, she pulls a knife and runs it through her cheating boyfriend's hair before confronting him about his affairs.

This is no dream.

But it's not real either.

Hedges belongs to Owensboro's new theater troupe, Merely Players. He and eight other actors now perform at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at Zazu, an East Second Street nightclub. The troupe's debut took place March 7 and included the above skit titled "Love Shackles."

Of course, Zazu is an adult venue, perfect for dishing up some pretty racy — at least by Owensboro standards — 10-minute skits. Most of the show is comedy.

"We hope Owensboro is ready for what we're bringing you this evening," Alan Velotta, Merely Players' founding artistic director, said as he prepared the Zazu crowd.

Here's what came next:

In one mini play titled "Dude Looks Like a Lady," a man-turned-woman yearns to be a porn star. The segment includes two women fondling each other's breasts and Hedges — once again — onstage in an open robe and pair of red briefs.

Another mini play involves a longtime married couple who want to spice up their love life by pretending they're on a first date. And the skit "Last Laugh" depicts a woman who gets turned on only when she laughs.

Guests should expect the irreverent with some foul language and adult situations mixed in. People who like "Comedy Central," "Saturday Night Live" or "Mad TV" should enjoy Merely Players' skits.

"It's new and different," says Eva Garcia, one of the actors. "I haven't seen anything like this in Owensboro."

Performing for adults only offers Merely Players an opportunity to step out and present more adventurous, contemporary material, Velotta says. At an early age, he liked the humor of "Firesign Theatre" and "National Lampoon's Radio Hour."

He studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York and worked in many theaters — sometimes with celebrated artists such as Phyllis Diller, Stephen Sondheim and The Amazing Kreskin.

While attending school in New York City, Velotta often went downtown with a group of fellow acting students to attend late-night performances at off-Broadway cabarets. "The material was always fresh and provocative, and admission was a fraction of the cost of a mainstream Broadway show."

And that's what he wants to bring to Owensboro.

This month, Merely Players presents "Quick & Painless," a series of eight skits. The mini plays were commissioned last season by Saturday Night Lites and produced in Los Angeles.

Next month, guests should get ready for "An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein."

Merely Players started small. The troupe borrowed four inexpensive body mikes purchased from eBay for $50 each. They didn't work, so they went with mikes set up on Zazu's small stage.

Sets are nothing more than a table, when needed, and a couple of folding chairs. Velotta serves as the master of ceremonies and light, sound and technical director.

Jerry Garcia, 23, of Owensboro, thought Merely Players' first performance was pretty risqué for Owensboro.

"I was surprised, but I'm glad they did it," he says. "It brought something new to the table."

To Attend

Merely Players, Owensboro's new community theater troupe, will present "Quick & Painless," a collection of 10-minute comedies by new playwrights, at 8 p.m. every Tuesday this month at Zazu, 119 E. Second St. There is a $5 cover charge. For more information about Merely Players and its shows, go to www.merelyplayers.org.

Starring:

Shawn Fugate, Eva Garcia, Matt Hedges, Sarah Hinton, Diane Huff, Lisa Lamar, Sheri Landisman, Gjcarra Mattingly and Alan Velotta.