Unnecessary Farce: A Police Caper with Heart, Brawn, and Brains

Officer Eric Sheridan (Kyle Phillips) puts the moves on accountant Karen Brown (Madeleine Bien)
while his partner Billie Dwyer (Ansley Barnard) is "tied up." 
PHOTO:  Paul Manoian

With bumbling cops, budding workplace romances, and crazy criminals, Unnecessary Farce might remind you of the old Police Academy movie.  But unlike some other slapstick police capers like Police Squad! and The Naked Gun films, Unnecessary Farce offers a more sophisticated brand of humor.  Its heroes are strong yet flawed, and even the bad guys have their good sides. The Farmington Players present this comedic take on a botched sting operation at the Barn Theater on February 7 – 22.

Kyle Phillips plays Officer Eric Sheridan, who he describes as “a straight-laced cop who is extremely excited for his big break at a real sting operation. What I love about playing Eric is his focus at getting things back on track when everything has turned to chaos.”  Eric develops a romantic interest in accountant Karen Brown (Madeleine Bien), the mole in this top-secret operation.  But pursuing her romantically proves to be “quite the sticky situation” when Eric must balance his “professional partnership with long-time friend Billie Dwyer (Ansley Barnard), while trying to keep a professional demeanor” with Karen, his love interest.

For her part, Ansley sees Billie as “searching for her moment of glory, where she can feel like she finally ‘made it’ as a cop.  I can relate to that effort in my career and the struggles I've faced to reach my goals.”  Ansley knows that audiences will enjoy this show for the “fast pace and word play in this script.  I want the audience to enjoy every joke along the way, but getting the timing of each movement and cue is a big undertaking.  Billie is a very physical role and a lot of the humor she brings to the show requires a ton of energy.  I feel spent after each rehearsal, but so happy.”  Frank Markus, who plays Todd the Scotsman, agrees:  “What I enjoy about farce, when done quickly and properly, is the extent to which audiences invariably love them. This actor feeds on audience feedback and farces always deliver plenty of that.”  Similarly, Gary Weinstein, who plays Agent Frank, relishes the combination of a “fast-paced puzzle with dialogue that permeates the show along with the physical comedy that the characters display.” Erik Carlson (Mayor Meekly) calls Unnecessary Farce “a joy ride for the actors and audience. Quick paced and laugh out loud funny!”

Unnecessary Farce has 9 performances at the Farmington Players Barn Theater from February 7 – 22. The show is proudly sponsored by Weinstein Jewelers. Tickets are available online at farmingtonplayers.org or by emailing boxoffice@farmingtonplayers.org or calling the Barn box office at 248-553-2955.