Nutley, N.J. – A lovely red building nestled under an old tree grove, Nutley’s Little Theatre, obtained by the neighborhood theater group in 1934, is now in its 88th season. The theater, with approximately 55 seats, givies you an up close, intimate experience of “Tin Cat Shoes,” playing through April 29 (with an unique sensory-friendly efficiency on April 22).
“Tin Cat Shoes debuted off Broadway in 2018, but hasn’t been produced locally since,” says director Sarah Gorden. “I read the playbook and laughed out loud so many times, I was immediately drawn to produce the show. I love that it’s a dark comedy with very human characters that also has a deeper message. I like strange, and this has a Twilight Zone aspect to it,” said Gorden. “It allowed me a lot of leeway as a producer to get creative with its wild jokes and a bit of dopiness.”
Much like the Rod Serling format, Arthur Carlson, as storyteller, sets the scene presenting the context of the comically ridiculous tale of a group of passionately devoted, young shoe store workers, called Lunch, Pepper and Cheddar, who invite Gemma, a brand-new worker to their cultish work culture.
Quirky manager man Rex, who has actually trained his employees to dutifully follow a specific procedural system unexpectedly upsets those treatments by starting an eccentric group-building experience. (did I point out “quirky”?) The next 24 hr has them experiencing a bear, getting lost in the woods, and checking out a gambling establishment, all the while evaluating their survival impulses off the grid and living off the “system.”
Each member of the cast plays various functions as the zaniness occurs, from shoe store to wilderness to bear encounter to a wonderful run of luck at a gambling establishment, winning at the croupier’s table. Lee DeCecco, as Lunch, Hayley Karlich as Pepper, and Orlando F. Rodriguez embody the zany, larger than life characters at the store — each with their own strange story. They offer newbie Gemma, played by Kayla Torres, the low-down, the tradition, and the love at Tin Cat Shoes. Boss man Rex is played by Richard Frohman, the hilariously system consumed leader. Frohman likewise plays the Bear in addition to a captivating, madcap croupier at the gambling establishment.
The production takes advantage of its relaxing space with numerous set modifications, strobe lighting and fog results. Gorden, who has a relative with autism, questioned if she might make the play more available. This led to a one-time sensory friendly efficiency of the program – a Saturday matinee on April 22.
The timing fasts and the jokes come quickly and furious. Follow the Tin Cat Shoes journey from order to mayhem — 90 minutes of enjoyable you wii be speaking about everything the method home.
Performances: April 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, at 8pm; April 16, 23, 29, at 2pm
April 22 at 2pm – an unique sensory friendly efficiency. Get tickets at Nutley Little Theatre. For tickets to the unique sensory friendly, efficiency, please go to
