Ratings for the cooking show “Baking with Babcha” have hit rock bottom on the local Public Access TV Channel. In its final show, Babcha a.k.a. Dolly Biddle (Joy Newkirk) decries her predicament with a thick, made-up Ukrainian accent in “The Kitchen Witches” now playing at The Ocala Civic Theatre.
Midway in the show’s closing moments, the host of a competing show, “Busy Izzy” a.k.a. Isobel Lomax (Laura Bradford) crashes the set. Her show has also been cancelled, and she in part blames Dolly. The show escalates to a Gerry Springer level before the producer, Stephen Biddle (Deion Bruce Howard) can pull the switch.
As Stephen tries to placate the two ex-TV chefs, the station chief is on the phone. The channel is besieged with calls. They want to see more!
Stephen, Dolly’s son, concocts a format where the two can cook up spicy episodes with some level of civility. He names the new show “The Kitchen Witches” and the pair bask in its lime light.
Sessions include a timed contest where a Celebrity Judge is ‘recruited’ from the audience. Another clip features Southern Cooking with Dolly in the Scarlet O’Hara curtain costume. Dolly traps Izzy into appearing in “Miss Prissy” garb.
The one-person camera and prop assignment falls to Dominique Yarbrough as Robbie who aces the part without a single speaking line.
Timing between the two stars is extraordinary. They master the quick and funny script that borders on slapstick, yet has some level of poignancy.
This clever, delightful play is an award winning 2005 work by Canadian Caroline Smith. According to my records, “The Kitchen Witches” is making its Florida premier at OCT. It sparkles under the direction of Carlos Francisco Asse.
An absolute winning ensemble performance receives an unqualified A Grade, and makes for an entertaining afternoon or evening club off-campus event for Villagers. Contact the Ocala Civic Box Office for group rates at (352) 236-2264. The show runs through Nov. 29. For other information visit www.ocalacivictheatre.com.
Villager Jack Petro review local theater for Villages-News.com