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Screwball comedy delights at Planet Ant

Inventor, world explorer and recluse Earl Screwsbury has died, and a posthumous gathering of his six closest associates at his posh estate has them curious. They are to be the inheritors of his vast wealth, Screwsbury tells them via a pre-recorded video, provided each follows specially-prepared clues that will ultimately direct them to their reward.
And by the way, he warns them: No one dies in the search, or everyone loses.
Which is easier said than done, thanks to the hilarious threats tossed their way by Shark, the winning improv troupe of this year's Plant Ant Summer Colony Fest.
Briskly directed by Pj Jacokes and written by some of the best improvisers currently working in Metro Detroit, "Screwsbury's House" is a delightful, fast-paced screwball comedy that evokes the lunacy of the Marx Brothers and The Three Stooges.
Standout performers include Anne Faba as Earl's "closest companion," Janelle, a one-time Miss Nude Winter. With bulging breasts and an IQ that matches her bra size, Faba's ditzy blonde bombshell is played to breathless perfection.
So too is Kat, Earl's personal assassin. A charming Southern girl who loves 'em, then kills 'em, Suzan M. Gouine scored great laughs on opening night with an over-the-top soliloquy dramatically delivered in case there was critic in the house – and she played it to the only one that was.
But it's John Hartman, with a thick black mustache and stiff upper lip, who gets the most laughs with his wry, dry performance as rival British archeologist Albert. (His under-the-breath quips are hysterical.)
Fine performances are also given by Chris DiAngelo, Matt Naas, Kathryn Thomas and – on video – Dan Izzo.
A heavy dose of sound, lights and video add to the show's charm – but a little more practice will erase the few miscues that occurred opening night.

'Screwsbury's House of Artifacts, Relics & Knick-Knacks'
Late Night at Planet Ant Theatre, 2357 Caniff, Hamtramck. Thu.-Sat., through Nov. 13 at 10:30 p.m. Tickets: $5. For information: 313-365-4948 or http://www.planetant.com

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