DON’T HUG ME, WE’RE FAMILY by Carol Kaufman Segal

            I love entering the world of the north woods of Minnesota where I have had the opportunity of looking in on the characters from Phil Olson’s Don’t Hug Me series of plays.  Phil is the writer of the books and lyrics; his brother, Paul Olson, writes the music.  Their sixth collaboration, Don’t Hug Me, We’re Family, is making its world premiere at Theatre Unlimited (T.U. Studios) in North Hollywood., and it is a real “kick”.

            It is February and, as usual in Bunyan Bay, it is brrrr cold!  The local radio station, KOLD, is set in The Bunyan Bar where Gunner Johnson (Andrew Carter) has been the host of a radio show called “Crappie Talk.”  His entire show is dedicated to ice fishing for crappies.  I guess it doesn’t create too much interest, even in Bunyan Bay, because he has not been able to maintain listeners, and he loses his only advertiser, Kanute's Bait Mart (owned by his friend Kanute {David Pluebell}).

            Losing his sponsor creates an even bigger problem for Gunner because his wife, Clara (Truett Jean Butler) hosts “Book Beat” which is very popular in Bunyan Bay and has lots of advertisers and listeners, and now competition exists between the two of them.  To make matters worse, an Italian gentleman from Brooklyn, Sal, (Michael Cortez) shows up at the Bunyan Bar followed by his ex-wife, Donna (Christina Gardner).  He announces that he has purchased the radio station, and Donna announces she has purchased the Bunyan Bay Hotel.  He only followed her to Bunyan Bay to keep an eye on her and ended up buying KOLD! 

            How much mayhem can these two interlopers cause in Bunyan Bay?  When Sal decides to fire Gunner and shows more than a bit of interest in more than simply Clara’s successful show, Gunner’s friends, Bernice (Allison Hawkstone), Aarvid (Micky Shiloah), and even his former sponsor, Kanute, side with him.  But it is questionable whether they are a help or a hindrance.  But as love will have it, it wins out in the end for all involved.

            As the plot of Don’t Hug Me, We’re Family moves along, it is interspersed with the songs by Phil set to the music by his equally talented brother, Dr. Paul Olson along with some dance numbers (Choreography by Michele Bernath).  The Bunyan Bar and radio station KOLD was designed by Chris Winfield.  The production consists of 14 original songs and 12 radio jingles (jingles performed by Allison Hawkstone).  The exceptionally talented cast is directed by Doug Engalla.  Enjoy a theatre experience loaded with talent, comedy, and a great deal of fun

            Don’t Hug Me, We’re Family plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through March 25, at T.U. Studios, 10943 Camarillo St., North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at donthugme.brownpapertickets.com, or by phone at (818) 850-9254.

           

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED