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| An evening with The Family at Madison’s Grill |
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01/29/06
By Dave Johnson
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 | | The once and future bosses |
My assignment was to write a review of an interactive musical comedy called “Who Stole My Dead Husband” that had something to do with The Mob (excuse me– “Italian businessmen”). To get into the mood, I donned my black fedora, cinched up my topcoat and headed for Madison’s Grill, 1109 SE Madison, a restaurant collaborating with La Famiglia, a local drama troupe, to produce this spicy slice of dinner theater. I was running late so I hustled through what looked liked the entrance about midway down a nondescript block-long building that houses Madison’s. Inside, I was escorted to a reception room/wine bar or, more accurately, I had just channel-surfed on a wave of Chianti into an episode of The Sopranos. A rather burly gent in a dark shirt and suit gave me a quick and friendly pat- down for any heat in my pockets. All I was packing was a two-inch “shiv” on my keychain. Unlike Homeland Security, he let that pass.  | | Authentic Italian dinner served in a cozy atmosphere |
Another paisano with an open collar handed me a glass of vino and I startled mingling with a chatty crowd of Portlanders. My sense of the familiar started slipping away when we were escorted to The Spumoni Gardens, a large room with red and white checkered tables, walls festooned with leaves and a stage featuring a guy tied to chair with a hood over his head. We weren’t on SE 11th Avenue anymore, Toto, but rather, in a bustling ‘30s era trattatoria somewhere along Mott Street in Manhattan’s Little Italy. As the salad arrived to begin a classic meal of “meatballs and macaroni,” we learned that somehow, we had been invited to a retirement party for Luigi Fishetti, the Boss of a local family of Southern European entrepreneurs. Affable and wired for 220 watts, Luigi belted out a couple of tunes and entertained the dinner guests with a primer on all things Italian. We were taught a few phrases and intonations. My favorite was the useful term, ti pazzo (which means, you’re crazy!). We played the ever-popular “You know your are a mobster when…” and were warned not to refer to his ethnic heritage as “Eye-talian.” If thoughtless diners made that mistake, Luigi warned that he would bludgeon us with references to Oregawn. Fair enough. While Luigi entertained his guests, noisy mayhem, erratic confusion and explosive emotions began to dominate the highly charged atmosphere at the Spumoni Gardens. Without giving away the plotline, I’ll mention that there was a guy named Carmine allegedly stashed in a coffin, a lot of yelling, a sweaty dude who loudly verbalizes his eating disorder (“I’m freakin’ starving”), a mook who owes Luigi 25 large, and a new head of the family whose rise to power seems to make sense of all this hubbub. Directed by Lou Pallotta, who stars as Luigi Fishetti, “Who Stole My Dead Husband” is a nostalgic and hilarious glance at his earlier life as an Italian in New York City. He says, “Growing up Italian in New York is quite an experience filled with large emotional swings, big family events, lots of food and music. It is a life filled with amazing stories. I decided to tell a few of these stories and to invite some friends in the theater community who happen to be Italian also, to come out and play. For the cast members who missed out on growing up Italian, this has been a baptism by lasagna!” He explains that the piece was originally performed at Portland Meadows, was closed last summer and started up again when Madison’s Grill agreed to provide the space and help with the catering the play. After the success of a number of private corporate and company dinner theater evenings held at Madison’s, the event that I attended was the first public staging of the comedy. Those who want to catch “Who Stole My Dead Husband,” can call 503.736.2178 for single tickets or group sales. Call Madison’s Grill at 503.238.7716 for other information. Before I wrap up this review, I want to applaud the skill and heart of this ensemble that stayed in character throughout the long evening. As well as Pallotta’s steady hand as Godfather of this unruly, yet fiercely loyal family, of note are the roles of Jimmy Ragazzi played by Jim Caputo, Corey Brunish as Nicholas Francis Sinatra and Dani Baldwin as Angela Fishetti. Caputo, a stage and screen veteran for over 25 years, keeps the theatrical ball in the air with his engaging portrayal of Jimmy the goombah who means well but is always hungry. Jimmy should hang out at Kornblatt’s Delicatessen in NW Portland. Brunish, a well-known figure on local stages has appeared in over 100 plays and musicals, six films and countless radio and TV ads. According to the feminine consensus at my table, his silky baritone and patrician good looks as Sinatra the younger caused a weakening of more than one set of knees. Baldwin, who teaches youth theatre & co-directed Winnie-the-Pooh at Oregon Community Theater, recently appeared in 7 Great Loves & Devine at the Sojourn Theatre, the 1942-1945 Christmas from Home series at the Tapestry Theatre) and Life is a Dream at the Miracle Theatre. In her key role, Baldwin deftly delivers satirical portraits of a vivacious vamp and daddy’s little girl. I had the pleasure of dancing with Angela Fishetti during the musical conclusion to this delightfully interactive musical comedy. Was life imitating art or art imitating life? Was I another character in the play? She was in my arms and, as a drama critic, it doesn’t get any better than that. Capice?
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