My days of watching Saturday morning cartoons occurred in the early days of television – from the late '50s to the mid '60s, when live action shows and puppets of all types ruled the airwaves. My favorites, in case you're wondering, were "Fury" (about a horse), "The Shari Lewis Show" (with puppets Lamb Chop and Charley Horse), "Supercar" (featuring something called "supermarionation") and "Diver Dan" (don't ask; it's way too complicated to explain in five words or less).
The only cartoons on my weekly schedule were the Loony Tunes and Merrie Melodies. So given my age more than anything else, "Scooby-Doo" was never on my radar. Sure, I've seen an episode or two since the series' debut in 1969. But my lack of familiarity with the series made me question whether or not I was the best critic to review the spoof "Spooky Dog & The Teenage Gang Mysteries" at The Box Theater on a recent Friday night. (It helps to understand the source of a spoof, you see.)
It took only a few seconds into the opening night performance to realize I was in for one wild and silly ride in the Mystery Machine – renamed (for copyright reasons, of course) the Clue Caravan.
Just like every episode of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series, The Teenage Gang has a mystery to solve. In "The Case of the Fairground Phantom," it begins with a phone call informing them of the disappearance of a famous friend (suggested at the start of the show by the audience) who was scheduled to appear at the Creepola County County Fair. So they hop in the Clue Caravan to rescue the famous star.
As you'd expect, the convoluted plot allows authors Eric Pliner and Amy Rhodes to poke fun of both the characters and the insipid mysteries they explored week after week throughout the popular series' long-running life. (The series can still be seen in reruns on Cartoon Network, creating yet another generation of fans.) They also answer a few OTHER questions fans of the show had pondered for decades – such as the sexual orientations of Fred (called Ted here, played by Patrick Kilbourn) and Velma (Thelma, played by Mandy Logsdon), and why Shaggy (Scraggly, played by Tom Arwady) and Scooby (Spooky Dog, played by Kevin Fitzhenry) had the munchies all the time. (Remember, the series had its start when hippies were in their heyday. And be forewarned: Leave the kids home, or you'll have all sorts of 'splaining to do!)
So without wanting to spoil the fun, I'll just say that director Deb Dworkin and her entire cast have the feel and the look of the show down pat – right down to the "commercials" that separate the play's "acts" and the costumes by Janie Minchella and producer John Forlini.
Scruffy-chinned Arwady is particularly impressive as Shaggy. One might say it's even downright spooky how close he comes to the source material.
The best performance, however, belongs to Minchella, who plays a double role in the show: that of Mrs. Big Woody, the owner of the fair, and her twin sister (the fortune teller). Not only does she LOOK the part of a cartoon character come to life, her vocal interpretations are reminiscent of many of the female masters of the cartoon voice-over.
The show's only downsides on opening night were technical snafus with the music, a few line bobbles and a scene change or two that took a little too long. But those, I suspect, will disappear soon.
So based on a thoroughly unscientific study – that is, me listening to the people sitting around me – my guess is that grown-ups who fondly remember their visits with Scooby-Doo and the gang will appreciate Spooky Dog and HIS gang more so than those who are unfamiliar with the characters. But for you "virgins" out there, don't let that scare you away: You'll laugh throughout much of the performance anyway!
REVIEW:
'Spooky Dog & The Teenage Gang Mysteries'
For adults only at The Box Theater, 51 N. Walnut, Mount Clemens. Oct. 14-15, 21-23, 27-28. $15. 586-954-2311. http://www.theboxtheater.com
