Well, hey, if you’re looking for a show with a couple two-tree guys trying to catch some perch Up North, then you might want to, ya know, check this show out.
Milwaukee Rep’s Guys on Ice is a musical about two friends, ice fishing and life. It brings humor and a whole lot of Wisconsin references to the stage but also reflects a niche yet common part of our state’s culture that feels nostalgic, even if you’ve never ice fished yourself.
Lloyd (Steve M. Koehler) and Marvin (Doug Mancheski) are best friends, and they understand each other’s quirky ways. Their friendship feels exactly like two older Wisconsin guys who don’t really talk about things but kind of do – just indirectly. In other words, they don’t need to say much to know what the other means.
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Marvin is excited because his shanty is going to be on a local TV show, and he hopes that it’ll help him get a date with the woman he likes that works at the grocery store. Lloyd is dragged into the TV thing but is mostly at the shanty to avoid the troubles he’s dealing with at home. As the show goes on, the two open up to each other more and more, letting their emotions show, especially after one key moment. (No spoilers here, don’t worry!)
And Ernie the Moocher – played by Tim McNurlen the night I saw the musical, but regularly played by Dan Klarer – was a ridiculous recurring character throughout the show, taking beers and venison jerky like the moocher he is. Ope, and he plays the ukulele. The character is just plain funny, and McNurlen nailed it.
“Ode to a Snowmobile Suit” was a funny duet sung by Lloyd and Marvin – turns out you can use snowsuit zippers as an instrument! And I loved when Lloyd played harmonica and sang about the beauty of nature, the peace of being in the middle of nowhere, and family in “Everything Is New.” Also, Marvin had the audience in an uproar of laughs during “The King,” doing a great Elvis impression. Both actors had strong voices and brought a lot of emotion to every song, from the funny to the more serious ones.
Another highlight was the “halftime show” hosted by Ernie. After intermission, the game-show-style break had fun Wisconsin trivia and weird prizes like a single cheese curd and a beef stick.
Overall, it was a hoot from start to finish and a fun way to spend a chilly evening.
Guys on Ice is at Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret through March 17.
