TAKE A BIG BITE OUT OF “WAFFLE HOUSE 5” FOR YUMMY FUN

THE WAFFLE HOUSE CREW PREPARING FOR THEIR DAY WITH SOME GIRL TALK

Who hasn’t fantasized and dreamt big about the chance of winning a lottery, not the $5 quick pick, but the millionaire type of improbability?  What would you buy first?  Would you quit your job?  What family, friends or charities might you support?  There’s no harm in day dreaming, or is there?

Pantochino Productions is once again tickling your fancy with an interesting proposition with their new musical ticket to good fortune “Waffle House 5” playing at the Milford Arts Council at the Railroad Station, 40 Railroad Avenue, Milford weekends until Sunday, May 19.

It may be hard to be cheerful at 5 a.m. but the early morning crew of waitresses and manager at the Waffle House know how to make you feel welcome.  The waffles are fluffy and hot, the coffee strong and the service is special.  Just ask Ned Nickerson (Don Poggio) who comes in most every morning for his friendly fix of food.

Ned even goes so far as to buy Florida lottery tickets to give as “tips” to his favorite morning pals, Angela (Rachelle Ianniello), Matthew (Justin Rugg), Jackie (Shelley Marsh Poggio), Sandra (Maria Berte) and Jaycee Rae (Mary Mannix).  As Miss Lucy (Marci Bing) tells the story, each recipient of a lottery ticket from Ned pledges to share, if we “hit it, we split it.” 

And wouldn’t you know it, one of those magic tickets comes in, to the tune of $10,000,000 which is a mighty fine tune.  And as luck would have it, Jaycee Rae has no memory of making any promises to share.  With her no account red neck hubby Bo (Jimmy Johansmeyer) by her side,  she pleads in court that the source of the winning ticket was not from Ned.

With a bevy of  fun songs, all country western twang,  the group prays to God “to make a millionaire of me” and  chatter up about “Girl Talk.” With lies and cries of fraud, the Waffle House 5 take Jaycee Rae to court to prove her guilt, with Miss Lucy as the presiding judge.  Come see for yourself if the verdict is fair and everyone wins buckets of cash.  Little Anna -May (Peighton Nash),  Matthew’s daughter, just wants a box of Crayola crayons to make her happy, while faithful customers Mason (George Spelvin) and Mavis (Valerie Solli) don’t want to see the Waffle House close.

For tickets ($ 25 ), go online to www.pantochino.com.

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday  at 2 p.m., cabaret style, so bring snacks to share.  Help Pantochino raise funds on The Great Give Wednesday and Thursday May 1 and 2 for 36 hours by going to www.thegreatgive.org.  The goal is to raise $15,000.

Pull up a chair at your favorite breakfast bar, designed by Von Del Mar, with original staging and direction by Bert Bernardi, music by Justin Rugg, costumes by Jimmy Johansmeyer, and order up a steaming plate of crispy waffles and bacon and see if you can win a share of the big pot (the lottery, not the coffee).