A Feast for Your Senses

By Carrie Canfield

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Medieval Feast at the Riverside Inn and Theatre, located at One Fountain Ave in Cambridge Springs yet this fall, you still have three more chances to catch their wonderful production of “Frankenfeast”.

Now celebrating their twenty-fourth year, the Medieval Feast production of “Frankenfeast” is a superb work from Writer-Director Bob Martin.

The Riverside Inn and Theatre’s Medieval Feast takes you on a journey back to the age of kings and queens, knights and damsels, jesters and jousters blended with the flavor of many of your favorite show tunes and Pop hits, all served up in an interactive style with a scrumptious menu fit for royalty.

Though expecting the ordinary medieval experience from the onset, through a cornucopia of fabulous costuming, stunning thespianism, and captivating musical compositions, along with a marvelous bill of fare that was prepared to perfection, what I found instead was one of the most delightful and entertaining medieval experiences that I could have hoped for.

The shows carte du jour included fresh hearth bread, healthy salad, hearty soup, along with the main course being a whole Stuffed Chicken and Barbecued Ribs and Zuppa with cheese and apples for desert.

In addition to writing and directing, Bob Martin joins the “Frankenfeast” cast to offer an enchanting performance, while the cast ensemble provide a truly unique and innovative experience.

The show features a script that can only be described as eclectic in its story line, including a plethora of zany comedy, spoof horror, and zombies, along with an abundance of charming musical numbers.

Though fans of theatre will be regaled with familiar tunes from Broadway musicals, such as “Rent” and “Wicked”, don’t think that you have to be a Broadway lover to enjoy this production.  “Frankenfeast” embraces tunes for everyone including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Katy Perry’s “Call Me Maybe” and the Lion King’s “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King”, along with unique twists and surprises along the way.

Audaciously starring Jerry Gill as Queen Elizabeth I, truly a queen in every sense of the word, Gill belts out not only demands to the court members, but also tunes to the audience as well. Humorous and engaging, he transforms himself into the saucy, energetic, flamboyant, diva of the show, stealing the stage and mesmerizing the audience.

Inga, played by Leah Johnson, is simply entrancing as the village idiot seeking employment as a server at the medieval feast.  Audiences will find her skit where her hand is caught in a “chicken cavity” to be not only witty and entertaining, but backed by an incredible voice that has you begging for more.

Risen from the dead, and still able to carry on with the feast, Aaron Pacy commands the stage as Frank. With a voice that holds you spell bound, and the acting chops to match, Pacy stands out as a tremendous talent whose performance, unlike his character, needs no reviving.

Sherere Beltz delivers a stellar performance as “Kate”, the dumb blonde of the show, as her talent pours from the stage as wine from a goblet, Beltz’s voice that starts out soft and hypnotic, but ends with a bang.

Kelly Rodland as the sassy, confident counterpart to Frank stands out as more than a supporting cast member, rocking the stage and delivering amazing vocal presentations and a high powered and gifted acting performance. Dom DelGreco delves into the role as the hunch back Igor, with gusto, while  Ken Falkenhagen as Vlad,  Igor’s wary and hesitant “roommate” is one to surely watch.

Continuing November, 15-17, “Frankenfeast” is an incredible show that features a rich cast of talent, brilliant performances, with songs that you’ll love to sing along to, and majestic costuming, along with tantalizing food for your palate that will have you wanting to come back to “Frankenfeast” again and again.

Remember, you don’t have to run, but you do have to hurry because this weekend are the final performances of “Frankenfeast” at the Riverside Inn and Theatre’s Medieval Feast. For more information, tickets and reservations, please visit www.theriversideinn.com.