Pasadena performances pay tribute to 'Carol Burnett Show' - Houston Chronicle

Slapstick comedy, zany characters and laugh-out-loud skits will be on display when Pasadena Little Theatre presents "A Tribute to the Carol Burnett Show" Aug. 12-14.

"All of the sketches are from the first few seasons of the show," said director Renea Runnels, including spoofs that are titled "Bonnie and Clod," "As the Stomach Turns" and "Lovely Story."

Runnels will begin each performance by coming onstage to interact with the audience, the way Burnett started her episodes with a question-and-answer session.

"We wanted to do the show in much the same way as the variety show," she said.

Tickets are $20.

"The show is divided into two acts, with each act composed of six independent scenes and also a musical performance," said Judy Ahlhorn of Seabrook, who will appear in several skits with Julie Owen of Clear Lake.

For example, Ahlhorn and Owen will perform "The Coffee Commercial," a scene originally enacted by Burnett and Debbie Reynolds, along with Pearland's Brett Owen (no relation to Julie), in a role first performed by Burnett sidekick Harvey Korman.

In Act 2, Ahlhorn and Julie Owen will be paired in "Rent-a-Car," which was originally performed by Burnett and Lucille Ball. Joining them will be Steve Quimby, Jeffrey Luchsinger and Bonnie Reichel.

What: "A Tribute to the Carol Burnett Show"

Where: Pasadena Little Theatre, 4318 Allen-Genoa Road, Pasadena, TX 77504

When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 12-14

Admission: $20

Information: 713-941-1758; https://pasadenalittletheatre.org

"I have loved Carol Burnett since I was a little girl," said Reichel, who is the theater manager for Standing Ovation Theatre, a Bay Area group that plans to open its playhouse in Webster in early 2023.

When Reichel was 11, she wrote Burnett a fan letter, asking for advice on becoming an actress. The star replied with an autographed photo and words of encouragement.

When Reichel opened a community theater in Terrell, Burnett sent items for the group to auction, including a pen-and-ink caricature of her signature role as a cleaning lady.

Reichel's favorite role to play in the PLT tribute is Zelda, the whiny, nagging wife whom Burnett based on the character of Alice Tripp in the 1951 film "A Place in the Sun."

"She henpecks her husband; she annoys everyone," said Reichel.

Another well-known character, Alice Portnoy of the Fireside Girls, is portrayed by Karelia Alexander. The juvenile shakedown artist is featured in two sketches.

A skit with "The Old Folks" showcases a long-married couple made famous by Burnett and Korman.

In addition to them and cast regulars Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner and Tim Conway, the tribute includes roles that were originated by the TV show's guest stars Art Carney, Milton Berle, Cass Elliot, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be contacted at donmaines@att.net