Review: "The Holidays Can Kill You!" by AspenDream Productions

By Nancy Sasso Janis

AspenDream Productions, LLC presented “The Holidays Can Kill You!” (‘Tis the Season for Murder)” at a recent fundraiser for St. John Paul the Great Academy held at the lovely Torrington Country Club. AspenDream is celebrating its 26th smash year.

The holiday-themed murder mystery is “based on a true rumor” and is performed by AspenDream Productions, an “interactive dinner theater that keeps you laughing from the moment you walk in the door.” I can attest that by the time the mystery was solved at the end of the performance, my face was sore from smiling throughout the evening.

The unique performance is produced and directed by the ApsenDream Artistic Director, Janice Luise. She is a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, League of Professional Theatre Women, Dramatist Guild of America and Equity Association. She describes the story that unfolds in front of the audience as having many different themes: “hopes, fears, injustices, dreams, bigotry, egos, demons, revelations, reveal, and that’s just in the first two scenes.”

Luise, who is a tiny powerhouse of a lady, encourages patrons not to just sit back and relax. “Instead, I encourage you to lean in, engage, and return to being an integral part of this transient and alchemic exchange of energy across the floor.” The cast and production team set out to offer a “few hours of inspiration, escape, entertainment, and just plain FUN!”

The story, written by Luise, is full of fun. In this holiday version of the murder mystery Don Franco, the notorious mob boss, is throwing a holiday celebration. It was arranged to stop the feuding that has been erupting over many years between two major crime families, the Machiavellis and the Lombruscos. There is a helpful list of the characters included in the printed program.

In this unusual murder mystery with a twist, the Machiavelli family has invited all of their gangster friends to the celebration. Suddenly, a scream is heard and a murder is committed. The motley crew’s wild-goose chase for the killer among them ensues. Everyone in the room is being framed for a variety of mobbish indiscretions and those who want to keep their secrets safe will have to answer to Agent Orange.

Uncle Franco asks his guests to keep conversations low so everyone can hear or they “will be taken for a sleigh ride with the Grinch and not brought back.”

The setting of the story is “today, tomorrow, or yesterday” at Don Franco’s nightclub located (coincidentally?) at the place of the performance. “Only mobsters and their acquaintances have received private invitations” and everyone is given the name tag of a famous personality to wear upon arrival.

The list of actors that make up the multi-aged cast is a long one, and includes some talented performers that I recognized from local productions, making the experience even more memorable for me.

La Familia is led by The Don, Franco Machiavelli, played perfectly by Donald Rondini. Stella Machiavelli, his ex-wife, is played by Donna Ekegren. Uncle Franco’s current flame (and bejeweled gold digger) is brought to life by Barbara Stolarik. Mama Lambrusco is a member of the Machiavelli’s rival family, the Lambruscos. She is fully embodied by Jenney Rivard, who I have seen in performances by the Castle Craig Players.

“Da Goons” that work for Uncle Franco are a varied bunch with names that evoke their personalities. Danny Lambrusco is the son of Mama and is the groom in the story who gets to perform “My Way.” He is played by Danny Viets in a Santa cap. Rocko Rigatelli is Danny’s bud who runs “All Da Way” in Vegas; he is played by Robert Santoli.

I was escorted to my table by Moe da Muscle, who plans on takin’ over. Christopher Bethune is the well-muscled performer who plays this role and often had my back. Sal Manilla, who is billed as Franco’s “Left Hand Man,” is played by Eric Greenfield. Tony “Two Bits,” who has a gambling problem, is played by Tony Verrier.

“Da Chicks” include Donna Machiavelli, who is Stella and Franco’s niece who is crazy for Danny Lombrusco from the rival family. What a treat it was for me to see Kayla Kusy playing the role of the bride. I have watched this young performer grow up in Naugatuck Teen Theatre productions.

Kitty Katz is Donna’s best friend and she is played by Rachel Szostek. The Ice Queen, a Mob Boss of Vegas, is played by Melissa Rand in both a tiara and tiny holiday hat. Eileen Dover is played by Alexis Thomai.

Special guests in the troup are John Moran in the role of Agent Orange, an FBI agent not afraid to photograph everyone in the ballroom. Father O’Flasky, who replaced Father Rigatoni (all tied up,) is played by Patrick Hearn (pictured above.) This wonderful community theater actor worked for many years with Bob Tansley on productions with (the now closed) Blessed Sacrament Children’s Theater.

The cast performs in character before, during and after dinner is served, facilitating the dancing that begins during dessert. This section of the show brings the audience to the couple’s wedding reception, with all of the best parts of a reception with a good DJ.

Melissa Rand is credited with the choreography in the performance and Donna Ekegran also serves as the costume manager. Luise designed the sound and music. Barbara O’Connell was the acting coach, Ekegran was the dialect coach, and Kusy served as the singing coordinator. The DJ/MC for the evening was Joe Garahan of Night Owl Entertainment.

To call this an interactive experience seems too mild of a term. There is a scavenger hunt, a sing-a-long for “That’s Amore,” line dancing, a unique basketball game, a sexy dance by the guys, the “YMCA,” and even “The Hanukkah Song.” It is all a bit exhausting if one does everything, but loads of fun.

At this fundraiser, attendees enjoyed an impressive buffet dinner including dessert and a cash bar.

An AspenDream performance is memorable and “Once you’re in…there’s no gettin’ out.” For information about booking a AspenDream production, visit wwwAspenDreamProductions.com

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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