Séance 4

Planet Ant Theatre’s late-night series is a platform for offbeat one-act plays and emerging comedy troupes, but it’s also a ready-made spotlight for its own Home Team of improvisers. Despite the implied sequel in its title, original comedy Séance 4 needs no introduction. Conceived and written by its ensemble cast and directed by Lauren Bickers, this gathering of oddballs is less a scary Halloween story and more a vehicle for exquisite character play among longtime teammates.

Other than excusing any limpness or watering down in its story, the script itself doesn’t explore the meta humor of the played-out repetition of a horror series. Instead, the plot is a stand-alone tale of four cul-de-sac buddies who gather for a half-serious trek into the unknown. Tender-butch Tina (Cara Trautman) wants to contact her years-passed paramour, downtrodden Trent (Michael Hovitch) needs a distraction from his recent divorce, nonbeliever Jane (Dyan Bailey) is as pleased about the choice of activity as she is about the dog doo haunting the neighborhood, and profoundly distinctive Colleen (Tara Rase) will try anything once as long as there are snacks. With a Ouija board at the center of the action, the play progresses and meanders in expected and unexpected ways, balancing supernatural surprises with superb character choices. Even the use of iconic material lifted wholesale from its source works here, demonstrating the effectiveness of homage when filtered through an original lens.

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SPOT THE ROGUE for EncoreMichigan.com: Weekend wrap-up

We've reached the last day of SPOT THE ROGUE for EncoreMichigan.com. Thanks largely to some inspired Photoshop work, the total has edged up to $1,150, with the twelve-hundred mark just a whisper away thanks to a few pending entries. (Remember, all photos must be emailed to roguecritic@gmail.com by midnight tonight in order to count toward the grand total.)

Rogue readers have done a commendable job thus far in building support for the fundraiser, but there are still funds remaining for the final push. The easiest way to contribute today is to cover all but your eyes for a RogueReplica image, which can be done anywhere in a matter of moments and bump up the total by another $5. The second-easiest way (and twice as lucrative, at that) is to go to a theater tonight and take a picture of yourself for a $10 SPOT THE [You] entry.

Your charge, Michigan theater fans and artists, is to break my bank in your support of EncoreMichigan.com. If everyone in the cast and audience of Planet Ant's industry night of Séance 4 plays SPOT THE [You], I'll smile through every slurp of Top Ramen. If everyone in the cast and audience at the Ringwald's half-off Monday performance of Hedwig and the Angry Inch plays, I'll make happy noises as I nudge my thermostat down. If everyone in rehearsal tonight makes it a photo opportunity, I'll cry mercy and celebrate at the same time. So do your worst, supporters, and make me proud.

SPOT THE ROGUE for EncoreMichigan.com: Introducing the Lightning Round

WHO Supporters of EncoreMichigan.com.

WHERE Anywhere in the world. Artists who have left the Michigan nest, this is your chance.

WHEN Entries accepted Saturday, October 29, through midnight Monday, October 31.

WHY To demonstrate our passion for comprehensive theater arts coverage in Michigan. (And because it's much harder to play SPOT THE ROGUE when the Rogue is out of town.)

WHAT Email roguecritic@gmail.com with an image that falls within any of the following 3 categories:

"Rogue's Last Session"
Courtesy of Jess Preville

PhotoshopRoulette. Pledge amount: $10
Fabricate your own SPOT THE ROGUE opportunity on the backdrop of your choice. Players may acquire Rogue images from the photo galleries here and here. Creativity is encouraged (obscenity is not).
 

SPOTTED backstage
Courtesy of Rob Pantano
(and captive)

SPOT THE [You]. Pledge amount: $10
Go to a theatrical event, anywhere, and take a picture of yourself.
You could be attending a show, performing in a show, or working at or around a show; entries from backstage, the house, the lobby, in front of the marquee, or in any corner of a theater are all welcome. (Note: Participants must adhere to house rules about prohibited activities during a production. Taking photographs of a play in progress is verboten; not only will such entries be rejected, you're setting yourself up for a Rogue of a talking-to.)

Courtesy of Anne Marie Damman

RogueReplica. Pledge amount: $5
Stage your own version of the SPOT THE ROGUE playbill-peekaboo image using any playbill or program, or use this space to show your affection for EncoreMichigan.com, no matter how far away you are.

Participants may submit multiple entries from different categories; however, only one entry per person will count in any given category. (For example, the above-pictured Rob Pantano may still submit a PhotoshopRoulette or RogueReplica entry, but cannot submit another SPOT THE Rob Pantano.)

SPOT THE ROGUE for EncoreMichigan.com: Day 7 wrap-up

Making it a grand with the Dead Guy.

I make a living as a copy editor, so my love of a correctly placed comma is well documented. However, I don't know if I've ever enjoyed typing the comma so much as I just did in the updated total. That's right, SPOT THE ROGUE for EncoreMichigan.com has crossed the threshold into four-digit fundraising with a total of $1,025! (Editor me is limiting that to a single exclamation point, but imagine a few dozen invisible ones stringing along behind it topped off with some clip-art fireworks. Yes, my excitement has reached clip-art heights.)

Tonight is Michigan's last opportunity to SPOT THE ROGUE in person, at opening night of Much Ado About Nothing at Hilberry Theatre. Watch this space for the heavily anticipated WEEKEND LIGHTNING ROUND, which will — so help me — offer EncoreMichigan.com supporters all over the world the opportunity to pitch in and show their support. Details about the all-play extension of the fundraiser are now available, and LIGHTNING ROUND entries will be accepted this Saturday through Monday.

SPOT THE ROGUE for EncoreMichigan.com: Day 6 wrap-up

I didn't picture myself as Roguey Claus, but who am I to argue?

What have we accomplished in 6 days?
•Ensured some ramen eating in my future by raising $800!
•Exceeded the 29 entries of the original SPOT THE ROGUE contest
•Baffled the slideshow feature, which tops out at a paltry 30 images

This is cramazing, and we're not finished yet. Many thanks to the enthusiastic improvisers and staff of Go Comedy!, who not only stopped to meet me and take my picture last night, but used my suggestions and let me sing along and fed me cheese cubes and crackers and unbeatable beer specials as the laughter rolled on. And to the greatest bartender around, who vowed to match my pledge for his SPOT THE ROGUE entry by donating $25 of his own through the established Paypal fund, thanks a thousand times over for your generous spirit and dedication.

Tonight it's mid-Michigan's turn to show me what they've got; I'll be rolling into Williamston to revisit The Dead Guy in its final weekend. Along with Friday's stop at the Hilberry for opening night of Much Ado About Nothing, this is one of the final in-person SPOT THE ROGUE opportunities before I leave town for a long-planned visit. I'm finishing up the details on the WEEKEND LIGHTNING ROUND even now, and will have full instructions available for you tomorrow. So just wait for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, when it will be just as easy and even more convenient to SPOT THE ROGUE, no matter where you are.