Given what has been occurring on the planet the previous two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Brian Nichols needed to offer laughs for audiences.
So, he steered he direct the comedy, “Flaming Idiots,” for Westfield Playhouse.
“I directed this present earlier than and I discover it to be very humorous,” mentioned Nichols, who lives within the Castleton space of Indianapolis. “It was not within the Indianapolis space beforehand and I needed to convey it right here. It’s a farce. There’s numerous laughter and plenty of craziness. I believed it might be nice now as we’re approaching the opposite facet of the pandemic. Whether or not it’s over or not, I don’t know, however simply to have folks chortle for a few hours, neglect in regards to the battle in Ukraine and the heaviness of the whole lot else occurring, simply are available in right here and chortle.”
Foremost Avenue Productions will current “Flaming Idiots” from March 31 to April 10 at Westfield Playhouse. Nichols is making his Foremost Avenue Productions debut as a director. He beforehand was an assistant director for “The Foremost Who Shot Liberty Valance” in 2019 at Westfield Playhouse.
The “Flaming Idiots” plot facilities on two postal staff who wish to open a restaurant. They borrow cash from a mob affiliate to open it and notice they know nothing in regards to the restaurant enterprise, and it’s been empty. The homeowners determine eating places the place there was a mob hit are all the time busy, in order that they stage a pretend mob hit.
Ethan Romba performs Phil, one of many homeowners. The opposite proprietor, Carl, is performed by Austin Uebelhor.
“It’s been a riot,” Romba mentioned. “It’s a hilariously written story line. The dialogue is de facto humorous. We’ve got a fantastic forged with the fitting folks in every position.”
That is the primary present Romba has finished within the Indianapolis space since shifting from Chicago to Fishers in December 2021.
The final manufacturing Romba, 31, was in was a pupil present at Northwestern College about 11 years in the past.
Romba discovered about auditions for the present when he attended “Of Mice and Males” at Westfield Playhouse.
“I really feel blessed to get this half,” Romba mentioned. “The most important problem is memorizing the traces. I’ve over 400 traces.”
Noblesville resident Eric Bowman performs a goofy 73-year-old hit man named Louie, who’s dropping his reminiscence.
At 48, Bowman is taking part in a personality who is sort of a bit older.
“I benefit from the position as a result of he has reminiscence points,” Bowman mentioned. “It relieves a bit pressure of getting to memorize the traces a lot as a result of if I neglect one thing, it form of matches in with the character. I received all of the traces fairly effectively down. I’ve in all probability the third-largest position in it after the 2 most important characters.”
Bowman mentioned it’s a enjoyable position to play as a result of he has to stroll and discuss like he’s 25 years older than he truly is.
“I began appearing three years in the past and haven’t stopped since,” he mentioned. “I’ve been in 27 reveals, each appearing and manufacturing. Proper now, I’m doing this present and operating sound for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ at Duck Creek in Elwood, after which will probably be appearing in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ on the Attic Theatre at Ivy Tech (in Noblesville).
“I’ve all the time needed to do one thing at Westfield Playhouse and I’ve labored with Brian just a few occasions.”
Bowman directed his first play in Shakespeare within the Park, and Nichols performed a job.
Bowman mentioned that is his first full comedic position.
“I’ve had roles that had comedic traces,” he mentioned.
A theater fan, Bowman mentioned he needed to present appearing a attempt.
“I’m truly a very shy individual. My first few auditions I nearly handed out on stage to attempt to do the chilly reads,” Bowman mentioned. “I needed to sit down as a result of I used to be lightheaded. I’m getting fairly good with accents. I don’t memorize rapidly however I memorize fairly effectively. I’ve 130 traces on this one. I had 480 traces in ‘The Mousetrap’ at Duck Creek. Appearing permits you to be another person for a short while and produce pleasure to others.”