And We Have A Winner with “Bingo”!

A Review by Joan E. Kruger
Staff Writer

For an evening of pure unadulterated fun, set your GPS for 10th and K Streets and head for the Cosmopolitan Cabaret for their newest show, Bingo, the Winning Musical. Opening Friday night, the talented cast of Bingo played to a full house of enthusiastic patrons who never stopped laughing from beginning to end in this rollicking musical that includes substantial audience participation. In short, Bingo is about three best friends and their fifteen-year feud with a fourth pal, all over a bingo card, with a bit of intervention (on the part of a daughter), redemption, and a happily-ever-after reunion thrown into the mix. But these ladies aren’t just friends who enjoy some bingo on “Girls’ Night Out” (the opening number, as well as the finale), they are bingo mavens; they are every stereotype of bingo players you’ve ever seen, right down to the lucky trolls and other accoutrements stuffed into tote bags (Patsy has a whole case of lucky rabbits’ foots, organized by color; Bernice has her lucky seat cushion, and so on); they are ladies who insist on “their” table, and who never miss bingo night on any account. Photo: From left: Eydie Alyson as Patsy, Nikki D’Amico as Honey, Lisa Raggio as Vern and Jessica Crouch as Alison in “Bingo, the Winning Musical”

As the play opens, a terrible rain storm is raging outside—an appropriate backdrop to the feud that unfolds as the story goes along—but the girls are determined to play bingo despite the dire warnings heard on the radio. We’re introduced to the principles during the opening number, the adorable if a bit ditzy Patsy (Eydie Alyson), the oft-married but naïve and romantic Honey (Nikki D’Amico), and the indomitable tough-talking Vern, in a standout performance by the superb Lisa Raggio, especially when she belts out her powerhouse song, “Swell”, which brought down the house. These ladies know their stuff, with long lists of Broadway/National tour (not to mention previous stints at Music Circus) credits for each. They are joined by Jessica Crouch as Alison, Bonnie Bailey-Reed in the deftly played dual roles of Minnie and Bernice, and Michael Stevenson, in the dual roles of Sam and Frank, also seasoned actors with impressive credits. Photo: Lisa Raggio as Vern and Jessica Crouch as Alison in “Bingo, the Winning Musical”

Under the inspired direction of Glenn Casale, who has been staging Music Circus productions for 21 years in addition to Broadway and indeed worldwide credits, Bingo moves along at a fast clip, and in the course of the evening, the audience gets to play bingo too (with real prizes awarded!), to the delight of everyone. Of course one almost expects a mistake or two on opening night, and Jessica Crouch (Alison) flubbed a line or two, which seemed almost natural in her roles as the newbie to the bingo gang, but she made up for it with her great comic timing and gigantic voice, especially in her “Ratched’s Lament” number. Without giving too much away, other favorite moments include Patsy’s big win, Honey’s very funny “Gentleman Caller” sung with Sam (Michael Stevenson), Bernice in the “magic mirror”, the “Under My Wing” number sung by the entire cast, and especially the hilarious climactic moment in the game done in slow motion. It’s impossible to name a standout in this wonderful ensemble cast, although just for pure swagger Lisa Raggio (Vern) gets my vote, although Eydie Alyson (Patsy) was terrific also, and you may remember her from her role as Dee Dee in Suds last year at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret—bit of trivia for you, her husband Brad is the ever-present, ever-silent pianist on Glee (Glee fans will know who I mean)! Lots of laughs later, with even a winning bingo card or two along the way, Bingo, the Winning Musical was indeed a big winner with the opening night crowd! Photo: Nikki D’Amico as Honey and Michael Stevenson as Sam in “Bingo, the Winning Musical”

The Cosmopolitan Cabaret is a great venue, cozy and roomy at the same time, where there’s not a bad seat in the house, there’s a bright beautiful lobby (popcorn for just a dollar!) with the attractive Cosmo Café on the other side. A nice selection of appetizers, desserts, and specialty drinks are available before the show, but have dinner first. The show runs just under two hours, with a 15 minute intermission. Bingo, the Winning Musical runs from September 30, 2011 through January 8, 2012. Tickets start at $33 and are available by phone at (916) 557-1999, online at www.tickets.com or in person at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street in Sacramento, CA. All performances are at The Cosmopolitan Cabaret, 1000 K Street (at 10th street). Cabaret box office is open two hours before performances. Photo: Bonnie Bailey-Reed as Minnie and Michael Stevenson as Sam in “Bingo, the Winning Musical

The Cosmopolitan Cabaret is a 200-seat cabaret-style theatre, featuring 23 tables of four and seven rows of tiered seating with beverage counters. The bistro-style table seating allows you to enjoy cocktails, drinks or appetizers from the Cosmo Cafe, a new restaurant from the Paragary Restaurant Group, enjoyable as a pre-theatre dining option. The Cabaret shares the ground floor of The Cosmopolitan building at 10th and K streets with Cosmo Café; see their menu and more at www.CosmopolitanCabaret.com The Cosmo Cafe is a new restaurant from the Paragary Restaurant Group, the preferred pre-theatre dining option. Make a dinner or lunch reservation at Cosmo by calling (916) 446-9800. Take a 3D tour of The Cosmopolitan Cabaret at http://Photosynth.net  Photo: From left: Nikki D’Amico, Lisa Raggio, Bonnie Bailey-Reed and Eydie Alyson in “Bingo, the Winning Musical”

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