"Working for Crumbs" - by Kate Danley - Burlington Players (Burlington, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the Burlington Players' production of "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" by Kate Danley now playing in Burlington, MA. through March 8, 2025. Photo credit: Kristin Hughes)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMag Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"I suffer from Post-Traumatic-Raisin-Disorder."
- ("Grace") / Kate Danley
Burlington Players
Presents Kate Danley's
"WORKING FOR CRUMBS"
Written by Kate Danley
Directed by Chris Rose
Producer Hugh Thompson
Stage Manager Ben Brotman
Cast Includes: Angela Rossi as "Amy," Jacey Lynn Rutledge as "Grace," Sarah Logsdon as "Helen," Brit Barone as "Molly," Cathy Koerwer as "Vivianne," Shelley Wood as "AC Repair Lady/Janitor," Steve Bermundo as "Deliveryman."
Additional Creative Team:
Set Design - Chris Rose, Ben Brotman; Lighting and Sound - Matt Garlin; Costume Design - Tracy Sullivan; Props Coordinator - Kara Schmitt; Backstage - Michelle O'Hare; Hair and Makeup - The CAST; Makeup Consultants - Jacey Lynn Rutledge, Jonathan Rose; Set Dressing - Chris Rose, Ben Brotman, Kara Schmitt; Publicity - Michelle Fisher; Safety and Fight - Andy Rhodes; Audition Committee - Chris Rose, Ben Brotman, Karen Dervin; House Manager - Leslie Wagner; Photography - Kristin Hughes; Set Painting - Maureen Bailey, Jules Lopolito; Set Construction - Brit Barone, Steve Bermundo, Ben Brotman, Ben Delatizky, David Fisher, Cathy Koerwer, Sarah Logsdon, Michael McAfee, Michelle O'Hare, Chris Rose, Jonathan Rose, Angela Courtney Rossi, Maddie Rossi, Jacey Lynn Rutledge, Jason Rutledge, Hugh Thompson, Jason Toppan, David Wood.
Performances:
February 21, 2025 through March 8, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
The Park Playhouse, One Edgemere Avenue, Burlington, MA. 01803
The Park Playhouse is conveniently located just off Rte 95 and Winn Street in Burlington, MA. There’s plenty of parking. To reach the Park Playhouse, take Route 95/128 to Exit 34, Winn Street. Turn toward Woburn and take the third right onto Harriet Avenue (a steep hill). Follow to the end and make a left onto Edgemere Avenue. You'll see the entrance to Overlook Park about 50 feet away. Drive into the park and bear left. The Park Playhouse is the last building on the right.
TICKETS:
Phone # 781-229-2649webmaster@BurlingtonPlayers.com
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Burlington Players offers up the insanely silly office farce, "WORKING FOR CRUMBS," which is very much like “9 to 5” meets “Weekend at Bernie’s” bringing the funny of both.
The collaborative efforts by the Burlington Players' cast is enhanced by a marvelously clever and effective set that has been designed with everything arranged in such a precision perfect manner for the events about to unfold.
Secretaries Amy (Angela Rossi) and Grace (Jacey Lynn Rutledge) are two harried, harangued and harassed employees of Helen (Sarah Logsdon).
The collective burden of their work day appears to be lightened solely by the routine arrival of office and water supply deliveries made by handsome Deliveryman (Steve Bermundo).
Bermundo brings a fine comedic take to the character, allowing for some nice physical comedy bits with both the Rossi and Rutledge characters.
Amy and Grace are not only friends but loyal work allies whose alliance is about to be sorely tested.
The persistently antagonizing Helen informs the duo of impending cuts to staffing in many departments at their workplace, then simultaneously advises that one of the two ladies will be advancing through promotion to the “legal department.”
As Grace and Amy begin vying for the promotion, they unexpectedly find themselves united in having to cover for Helen when (spoiler alert) she suddenly expires in her office after an unfortunate incident with a cookie (believe me, you’ll need to see it to believe it).
(Photo: Sarah Logsdon as "Helen" with Angela Rossi as "Amy" in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" by Kate Danley now playing in Burlington, MA. through March 8, 2025. Photo credit: Kristin Hughes)
The co-workers unintentionally become co-conspirators as they get more involved in keeping Helen’s death a secret – especially when it begins working toward their mutual advantage.
They also begin an unexpected and uneasy secretive alliance with the maintenance staff in the form of the predominantly silent and mysterious figure known simply as the “Janitor/AC Repair Woman,” played with deadpan aplomb by Shelley Wood.
Logsdon is on target as office antagonist Helen, presenting the character as a self-absorbed high-heeled bootlicker to Vivianne (Cathy Koerwer), president of the company whose character comes off only slightly less self-absorbed as Helen.
Koerwer as Vivianne is also quite funny when on stage but unfortunately the character is not on for very long to allow for more growth.
(Photo: Jacey Lynn Rutledge as "Grace" in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" by Kate Danley now playing in Burlington, MA. through March 8, 2025. Photo credit: Kristin Hughes)
Afraid of being implicated in Helen’s death, the secretarial duo must keep the news of Helen’s expiration not only from Vivianne but also from the entire company, which includes fellow co-worker and foul-smelling office snoop Molly (Brit Barone).
Also up for the same job in legal, Molly is exceptionally portrayed by Barone as self-serving, aggressive, overtly friendly and manipulative.
Molly knows something is afoul at the workplace and the stench is not just coming from her overindulgence on her perfume.
As events unfold, the body count also begins to rise - and some of the actors playing deceased characters on stage must maintain the appearance of being dead for quite a long time but they do so quite skillfully with some hilarious results.
While "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" is a fairly new play, the farce, propelled and strengthened by its black comedy, was a contender and semi-finalist in numerous festivals between 2019 and 2023.
As well-staged by Burlington Players' director Chris Rose, there is a great emphasis on the arduous physical comedy here.
The above is well-executed (probably poor choice of words in this instance) by the entire cast and includes a high degree of pratfalls and slapstick maneuvers, some worthy of an old-school “Three Stooges” short.
(Photo: Steve Bermundo as "Deliveryman" with Angela Rossi as "Amy" in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" by Kate Danley now playing in Burlington, MA. through March 8, 2025. Photo credit: Kristin Hughes)
While the plot written by playwright Kate Danley is utterly preposterous and requires a high suspension of disbelief, what makes the whole thing work is the comedic partnership between Rossi and Rutledge as the beleaguered secretaries.
The laughs are relentless and the above success comes from the combined actors’ impeccable comedic timing and adeptness at the sheer volume of physical comedy involved.
"WORKING FOR CRUMBS" continues from Burlington Players in Burlington, MA. until March 8th, 2025 and is definitely one you want to place on your work calendar not to miss.
Coming up next at Burlington Players will be the Broadway musical "FUN HOME" with music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron and Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel, beginning May 2, 2025.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
"9-to-5 Meets Weekend at Bernie's"
In Kate Danley's "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" Grace and Amy are two outrageous admins who are living for the crumbs of their soul-sucking jobs.
But when calamity strikes and their boss chokes on an oatmeal raisin cookie, it sets off a domino-effect of destruction that brings down the corporate house.
ABOUT BURLINGTON PLAYERS
THE BURLINGTON PLAYERS (BP) is an all volunteer, adult theater group open to those ages 18 and over, and there’s room for you too! Experience in performing or technical theater is certainly welcome, but not necessary. We’ll happily mentor anyone who wants to learn any aspect of theater. THE BURLINGTON PLAYERS usually produces a four show season each year. There's fun and entertainment for everyone!
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box # 433
Burlington, MA. 01803
