Walking in a Wacky Wonderland

Fullerton College Hornet  - Amos Watene - Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Tomorrow night, Director Gary Krinke, who directed the recent Fullerton College production of the "Rocky Horror Show," will attempt to please audiences once again with his rendition of"Fuddy Meers."

The original play, by David Lindsay Abaire, is the story of Claire (Alyssa Butler) a middle aged mother who suffers from psychogenic amnesia that erases her memory every night when she falls asleep.

The play is filled with wild antics, oddball humor and crazy characters that get viewers laughing almost instantly.

The chaotic plot takes flight when, unlike most mornings, an innocently ignorant Claire awakens to a day that is completely out of the ordinary.

Things go crazy when a limping, lisping, half-deaf man (David LaMarr) kidnaps Claire and tries to convince her that her loving husband Richard (Shawn Brewer) wants to kill her.

Throughout the duration of the show, viewers are introduced to an array of deranged characters.

Claire's son, Kenny (Justin Juroe), is a laid-back, 17-year-old eighth grader, who suffers from dyslexia and an acute addiction to marijuana.

Millet (Jason Williams) is an exconvict who talks to his self-created foul-mouthed puppet.

Heidi (Robin Galbreath) is an overly zealous woman who has a teetering authoritative personality.

Perhaps the most interesting member to Krinke's cast of ribtickling social rejects, is Cathrine O'Donnell, who plays the role of Gertie, Claire's speech impaired mother.

O'Donnell, a Spanish instructor at FC, was recruited to perform by fellow faculty member, Bill Glassman, and she has been acting since high school.

Set designer Brett Engle offered a positive review of what audiences can expect from the production.

"The show is gonna be great. It's wacky, crazy, alot of fun and comedy in its purest," Engle said.

According to Engle, as the play approaches, showgoers can expect another fun-filled production from Krinke and his team.

"It is actually a simple illustration of a complex situation and it is totally hilarious," Engle said.

The tumultuous story of Claire and her family takes audience members for an amusing ride of twists and turns and finally proves that even the craziest of families can overcome dysfunction.

Tickets for the production are currently on sale at the Campus Theatre box office.