By Jennifer Knightstep

Posted: March 22, 2015 at 11:15 a.m.

MARINE CITY–If the business of Hollywood teaches us anything each spring when many of us hover around the TV set waiting to see if our own tastes match that of the Academy of Motion Pictures on Oscar night, it is that the culture of celebrity is as vacuous and saccharine as the worst cynics make it out to be. That is where Michigan native Mitch Albom comes in with his sharply funny tale about an Oscar-nominated actor who dies the night before the night of the red carpet.

“And the Winner Is…”, playing at the Snug Theatre in Marine City, is at heart, a sweet love story, just what you’d expect from anything written by Albom. But it’s also a wickedly funny physical comedy and a touching story of redemption — think the mushy tendencies of Nicholas Sparks meets Jerry Lewis (plenty of one-liners and falling-down bits).

“Winner,” which saw its world premiere at the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, MI, in the summer of 2005, tells the comic story of Tyler Johnes, a self-absorbed movie star finally nominated for an Oscar for his role in a film called “The Wind and The Fury” after many years of hoping, then dies the night before the awards. Outraged at his unfortunate turn, he’s determined to know if he wins and makes a deal with a heavenly gatekeeper to return to earth for the red carpet. He drags his agent, girlfriend , ex-wife and an acting rival into this funny pre-afterlife journey.

Most of the physical comedy is carried by the lead actor, Jonathan Meldrum, who will undoubtedly be covered in bruises by the end of this production. His Tyler Johnes (that’s “Jones, with an H”) is brilliantly played, surprisingly nuanced for what is at the start a very straight-forward character. Johnes is self-centered and shallow, the stereotypical Hollywood actor hoping for immortality through the little gold statue. His foil is Seamus (played by Jeffery Perdue), barkeep/pearly gatekeeper in “a mythical Irish bar somewhere between here and heaven,” a character that should conjure up Clarence in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Perue’s brogue is not just believable, but lyrical; is Irish his native tongue?

Rounding out the cast is Mandy Logsdon as Johnes’ agent, a fast-talking, quick-thinking faux-Frenchwoman, Jared Jarvis, Johnes’ competition. Sara Koch as Sheri, Johnes’ long-suffering soon-to-be-ex-wife, and Amanda Sayers as Johnes’ vacuous girlfriend. All four deliver stellar performances. Logsdon’s Teddi LaPetite is tack-sharp. Koch’s Sheri steals every scene she’s in (especially the one where she’s making her own Oscar’s dress while chatting on the phone). And Sayers is both gorgeous and funny, an excellent combination for this role.

The sets are simple but creative, and light and sound were nicely engineered. Both have been designed perfectly for the intimacy of the Snug Theater – the seating literally touches the stage — there’s no raised stage platform, and the theater seats less than 100 people.

Overall, the show is clever and charming, funny and surprisingly touching. Prepare to laugh, and by the end, to reflect a bit on our own mortality. After seeing this production of “And the Winner Is…,” even the least sentimental among us, especially about the Hollywood celebrity life, will find ourselves saying a little prayer before bed each night just in case.

SHOW DETAILS:
And the Winner Is
The Snug Theater
160 S Water St, Marine City, MI 48039
Friday and Saturday nights from Fri, Mar 20, 2015 7:30pm through Sat, Apr 4, 2015 7:30pm
Price: $20
810-278-1749
www.riverbanktheatre.com