Gathering gives ‘Flanagan’ a proper Irish send-off

Theatergoers have amused themselves at a simulated Italian American wedding and a just-pretend Jewish funeral in recent years. Why not a staged Irish wake?

The South Bay is a long way from Ireland, but don’t tell Chicago’s Noble Fool Theater, which originated the roisterous “Flanagan’s Wake,” now at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse.

Within the larger genre of interactive ethnic comedy, this show is more pointedly improvised than either “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding” or “Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral.” As theatergoers enter the lobby, many receive customized nametags from members of the cast. The monikers combine the theatergoers’ real first names with typical Irish surnames, and they help the actors find willing participants later in the evening.

“How are you holding up?” the actors ask as they fill out nametags. They’re referring to your frame of mind in the wake of Flanagan’s untimely death.

You do remember Flanagan? Actually, finding out more about Flanagan is ostensibly the point of the evening.

For the rest of the show, audience members are repeatedly asked for suggestions that guide the stories told about good old Flanagan, no matter how far-fetched they may be. A few volunteers are recruited to help out on stage with little comic tasks. If you buy Guinness or wine in the lobby, you’re allowed to take the drinks to your seats and imbibe throughout the show.

Not surprisingly, this “Wake” has an extremely loose-jointed feeling. As is typical of improv, sometimes the comic inspiration takes off, and sometimes it lands with a thud. On opening night, the production yielded a fair share of laughs and an overall atmosphere of conviviality, despite a few dead spots.

A cast of seven plays a collection of characters. Flanagan’s grieving fiancee (Lynda Shadrake), whose long engagement apparently was not completely chaste, exchanges dirty looks and comments with old Mother Flanagan (Rick Almada), who is rolled on in a wheelchair. It’s not easy to understand the gibberish emanating from the old woman, but the deceased’s loud best friend (Phil Lusardi) claims that he can translate.

The fiancee’s earnest and bespectacled brother (Brendan Kelly) tries to keep peace. A wild-haired young woman (Amy Binns-Calvey) refers often to the banshees. The purported authority figures are the take-charge mayor (Tim Schueneman) and the testy, eccentric priest (Mark M. Czoske), who is a firm believer in a lost “fifth gospel,” the Book of Kevin.

The cast displays solid improv chops in story and song. Some audience suggestions are better (on opening night, the late Flanagan had dreamed of being a camel jockey) than others (he died in bed). Cast members throw a few bizarre suggestions of their own into the pot.

Binns-Calvey, Czoske and Lusardi are among the credited creators of the production, which was conceived by Jack Bronis and apparently directed by no one in particular. The other creators are Jimmy Binns, Geoff Binns-Calvey, Pat Musker and Bonnie Shadrake, who wrote the original music. A pianist (Linda Kerns on opening night) provides accompaniment and occasional background strains that help the performance stay ever so slightly grounded, against a backdrop of what looks like a church or pub recreation room.

The 500-seat venue isn’t ideal for this kind of show, which usually works better in closer quarters. But the cast tries diligently to make sure no one feels detached from the action. Anyone who prefers detachment should take heed.

*

‘Flanagan’s Wake’

Where: Hermosa Beach Playhouse, Pier Avenue at Pacific Coast Highway

When: Today, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Tuesday-Feb. 1, 8 p.m.; Feb. 2, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Ends: Feb. 2

Price: $40-$45.

Contact: (310) 372-4477

Running time: 2 hours