Interactive lunch show is a twist on ‘Romeo and Juliet’

They say you can’t pick your family, but for one night, you can be part of Frankie and Nina’s.

Landslide Entertainment plans to perform “Frankie and Nina’s Big Italian Wedding,” an interactive lunch show, from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Heritage Park Senior Facility, 300 S. Racetrack Road.

“It’s loosely based on the Romeo and Juliet theme. It’s two families that hate each other, but they get over it,” said actor and director Jon Paul Raniola. “It’s two hours of what you wish your wedding could have been without any consequences.”

As the story goes, Frankie and Nina are two young adults from Brooklyn, N.Y., who are set to marry, but their big Italian families do not get along.

“It’s a party that everyone wishes they had actually gone to,” said actor Ryan Remark. “It’s a party, but it’s controlled chaos. It gets out of hand but in a good way.”

During the ceremony, guests can expect men’s shirts to come off, cake to be smashed, the cast to dance and sing and more.

“None of these characters have class,” Raniola said. “I’m from an Italian family, and I grew up in New York. If this show is done right, it’s not stereotypical. It just is what it is.”

Because the show is interactive, Raniola said the flow of the show depends on the mood of the audience.

“We’re able to scout the crowd within the first four minutes or less,” Raniola said. “We’re able to gauge if they’re more reserved but are still going to have a good time or if they’re really ready to start throwing plates and dishes along with us.”

Although the cast is experienced in traditional theatrical productions, most of the show is improvised conversation with the audience.

“A good cast is imperative for these shows,” Remark said. “Not only do we have to be good actors, but we have to work well with each other to convey to the audience that we’re actually related or best friends.”

Although two audience members are set to be named a godfather and cousin, actress Amy Solomon said everyone plays an active role in the show.

“Everyone is part of the cast, really,” Solomon said. “If I’m at a table, I may say to someone, ‘Do you remember your cousin Angeline? You haven’t seen her since you were 3,’ and for the rest of the night, that person is now Cousin Angeline.”

Where the script serves as more of a guideline than a rule, the cast treats every performance as if it is the first performance.

“The beauty of the show is if it was running five nights a week, you could go all five nights and see something different,” Raniola said. “Everybody gets their own show. It’s all personalized.”

The event costs $36 and includes a meal. Registration is required by Nov. 14. Attendees must be 21 or older.

For more information or to register, visit cityofhenderson.com/parks.

Contact Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.