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Section: Bingo Buzz

The Queen of Bingo
Royal Laughs in Fredonia

As any bingo player knows, the game is full of opportunities for humor, and parody. That’s why bingo fans must mark October 24 on the calendar, as the Fredonia Opera House presents The Queen of Bingo, a critically acclaimed madcap stage comedy featuring two crazy guys playing two zany girls.

The plot centers on Sis and Babe, two sisters “on the other side of 50” who want to add a little zest, fun and excitement to their lives. But where to find it? Bingo! Sis is a good loser who just loves to play; Babe is a player who must always win. Sis is fit and trim; Babe fights the battle of the bulge. Sis is a widow; Babe is still looking for love. Together, these seemingly opposite siblings will keep you in stitches.

The audience even gets to join in on the fun during the “Middle Bird Special” — a real bingo game where one lucky audience member wins a 10-pound frozen turkey.

Written by Jeanne Michels and Phyllis Murphy, The Queen of Bingo had its world premiere in November 1993 at Chicago’s Buckingham Theatre and opened off-Broadway at the Greenwich House Theatre in November 1996. The show began a national tour in October 2004 which continues through the Opera House performance and beyond.

Shane Partlow, who plays Sis, has been starring in The Queen of Bingo’s national tour for the past two seasons. He also has appeared in numerous notable stage productions including Superzeros with Noah Wylie’s Blank Theatre Company and The Sunshine Boys starring Dick Van Patten and Frank Gorshin at Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theatre.

He also has the distinction of playing “Roper” in 22 separate productions of The Will Rogers Follies.

Partlow also has appeared on television on the hit series Will & Grace and Gilmore Girls. His feature film work includes roles in the low-budget cult classic Beauty Queen Butcher and more recently in The Princess Diaries 2 and Georgia Rule.

Rowan Joseph stars as Babe. His off-Broadway credits include Soroyan’s The Time of Your Life and Gorky’s Children of the Sun. He also performed in the New York premiere of The Queen of Bingo.

In Los Angeles, he has appeared in the Falcon Theatre production of An Evening with Jack Klugman. He made his big screen debut in the feature film Raising Helen, and also appeared in The Princess Diaries 2. On television, he has had guest-starring roles on Gilmore Girls and and Boston Legal.











Rick Davis is the Fredonia Opera House’s executive director. Here, he discusses The Queen of Bingo, and its appeal to audiences.

It seems like the world of bingo is an ideal fit for this type of show. What aspects of this world does the show make light of?
Even avid bingo fans will admit that the world of bingo can be a quirky one … some players have rituals that they undertake prior to games, many bring with them various good luck charms, or they need to sit in their “lucky” seats. The Queen of Bingo touches on all of these aspects and as comedy often does, exaggerates them.

This is said to be an “interactive” show. How so?
The audience participates in an actual game of bingo at one point during the show. And the first audience member to get bingo wins a 10-pound frozen turkey!

How did you find Queen, and what makes it a good fit for Opera House audiences?
We found the production through one of the artist management agencies that we’ve worked with in the past. We were particularly intrigued because this touring production features the original off-Broadway cast members who made the show such a hit several years ago. Plus, it’s a great fit for the Opera House because it has a small set and a small cast. With only 444 seats, the Opera House is a very intimate space, so a production of this size works very well.

It’s always nice to see live comedy on the stage. Do you often try to book more light-hearted shows such as this one?
Opera House audiences have always enjoyed quirky comedies like The Queen of Bingo. In the past, for example, we’ve presented Late Nite Catechism, Sister’s Christmas Catechism and A Couple of Blaguards — all full of laughs. Plus, the two shows in the Catechism series were interactive, which gave the audience the chance to feel a part of the action. Aren’t we really all hams at heart?

The cast certainly has a lot of notable credits. Is it exciting to be able to bring in recognizable faces?
It’s always very exciting for us to be able to bring actors with such amazing credits to the Opera House stage. When we presented A Couple of Blaguards two years ago, the show starred Malachy McCourt, an amazing actor who, with his brother Frank, co-authored the play. While Shane’s and Rowan’s names might not be as recognizable as Malachy’s, I think audience members will recognize their faces from guest roles they’ve played in television shows like Law & Order and Will & Grace.

Tell me about the Fredonia Opera House season. What excites you?
The Queen of Bingo certainly ranks up there as one of the exciting shows we’re presenting this season. I’m also really enthused about Jonathan Edwards, the folk music legend best known for his 1971 hit “Sunshine.” He’s appearing here in November. This month we’re also presenting Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push, 12-time Grammy nominees for best polka band. And then in February, we’re presenting a program called Boheme to Broadway, which should really appeal to lovers of opera, operetta and musical theater. We try hard to offer a variety of events so that there is always something for everyone.

And for those who maybe haven’t visited the Opera House yet, what can they expect from the experience?
The Fredonia Opera House is a 117-year old vaudeville theatre that was beautifully restored by the community nearly 15 years ago. With only 444 seats, it’s an intimate space that allows audiences to feel very close, both physically and emotionally, to the artists performing on stage. As Chautauqua County’s only year-round performing arts center, the Opera House offers a wide variety of live performances in music, theater and dance. It also offers a 26-film cinema series that features current release independent and foreign films and documentaries. So there truly is something for everyone.

The Queen of Bingo will be performed at 8 p.m. on October 24. Tickets are $22 (reserved seating), $20 for seniors and $18 for Opera House members. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 679-1891, Tuesday through Friday, 1–5 p.m. and Saturday, 2–5 p.m. They also may be purchased online any time at www.fredopera.org


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