MANSFIELD – The original comedy show “Skits, Bits & Halfwits” is coming to the end of its roller coaster ride this weekend, with the opening of the show’s sixth iteration on the Mansfield Playhouse Second Stage.
After 15 years and five previous showings, the fast-paced sketch compilation will open for the last time on May 12. Co-creator Renee Rebman calls it, “the best time you can have with your clothes on.”
“I mean where are you going to see 46 comedic skits for $10 and have a beer?” she said.
It’s true, in the span of about two hours audience members will be treated to 46 skits and bits lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, and featuring everything from pirates and parrots to priests and prostitutes. It’s this type of off-color comedy that is a staple of Second Stage productions.
“It’s adult-themed, so you don’t really want your kids down here,” Rebman said.
“There’s something in this show that will offend just about everybody,” added actor Carl Hunnell.
Joining Rebman and Hunnell on stage is a handful of other veterans to both the Playhouse and Second Stage, including Michael Schoeppner, Jeff Dowdy, Johnna Gustafson, and the second co-creator of “Skits Bits,” Gordon Wendling.
Every cast member in this year’s version of the show is also a “Skits Bits” veteran, according to Rebman.
“I really wanted to have some of our regular players, it’s fun and they know what they’re doing,” she said.
This year’s cast members are also already somewhat familiar with the show’s material. In years past, Rebman and Wendling took the time to write brand-new sketches for each new show, but this year is a collection of “Skits Bits” greatest hits.
“This is the best of the best,” said Wendling. “There’s only a couple from the first years, the second year a couple more, the third and fourth year had more to pull from, and we pulled some from two years ago but not many. We wanted to keep it fresh by using some of the older material.”
“We use a lot of insult humor and sex humor … you know, stuff that’s timeless,” Rebman added with a laugh. “But it’s still funny.”
“Skits Bits” first came about in 2002 when Wendling had the idea to create a vaudeville-style show using a book of comedic monologues written by Rebman. The show has evolved slightly over the years, at one time having an emcee and up to 12 actors at a time. One constant throughout the years has been the roller coaster sketch to end the show.
“I invented that, and she hated it,” Wendling teased.
“Hated? I still hate it,” Rebman said. “I won’t even ride it. But everybody loves that.”
The show also creates a pleasant challenge for the actors, who move from character to character at a very fast pace, picking up different voices, accents and costumes along the way. Sometimes, it can be a challenge to remember which skit is next on the list.
“I came out once and I stood there waiting for Jeff (Dowdy), and he didn’t show and didn’t show,” Wendling recalled. “I’m rocking on my heels making them laugh while I’m standing there looking stupid. Then it dawned on me: we weren’t on that skit.”
“Skits, Bits & Halfwits” opens on the Mansfield Playhouse Second Stage on Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m. with subsequent 8 p.m. shows on May 13, 19 and 20. Tickets sell quickly and can be purchased online at www.mansfieldplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 419-522-2883.
Both Wendling and Rebman said closing the show is bittersweet.
“It’s hard to do this, and it’s a lot of work putting it together,” Rebman said. “But after 15 years of this, I’m real proud of what we’ve done with it. And I’d rather go out on top.”
