A “Nutty” Production
By AJ Ballard |
Mixed Nuts, Roosevelt Theatre Company’s newest production, is about Michael, an aspiring writer from Ohio, who moves to New York City to chase his dreams. He meets many types of people, all unique and nutty in their own way. Michael’s parents disapprove of his love of writing, and so he leaves both his fiance and his family to follow his dreams. One of the first people he comes across is a drag queen named Tanya. Tanya also happens to be a Russian dancer, and in the terms of the actor playing her “Tanya is a very… special type of person… If she feels threatened or anything like that, she lets out an intimidating ahhhh,” actor Mark Gallardo said.
The cast of Mixed Nuts. Courtesy Photo.
Another character encountered by Michael is a man by the name of Marshall Ryans, who, according to Karilyn Herrera, who plays the main love interest of the play, “[his] specialty is vegetable [or fruit] commercials.”
Marshall is so immersed in his job that he is introduced to the audience in an olive costume.
“[Marshall Ryans] has the position of a concord grape,” Gallardo said.
Michael comes across the love notes of the play, named Phil. She’s a beautiful girl who lives in the apartment complex where every character so far resides.
One of the last characters introduced is the landlord named Edna, a very eccentric woman with the New York City lifestyle practically drilled into her veins. Finally, there’s a model named Heather, described as a stereotypical white girl. She is another love interest, although what happens between her and Michael doesn’t go very far, mostly due to Phil’s own feelings for Michael. Because of this, the characters come together to sabotage Heather’s date with Michael, leading to the very fun and overall enjoyable premise of the play.
The play ran from Nov. 16-18.