06/10/2026
Thank you for stopping by and joining us in Malibu, Kyle!
Take the advice and GRAB THOSE TICKETS! You only have four more chances to see what had Kyle laughing from beginning to end!
CumberlandTheatre.com
Made possible by generous sponsorship of Doug Schwab and Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab ! Thank you!
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: Written by Kyle Wolford in Association with Kickin’ It With Kyle
Have you ever watched those cheesy 1960’s beach movies? Or maybe those classic psychological horror films? Psycho Beach Party perfectly combines both genres into one show.
Psycho Beach Party at the Cumberland Theatre starts off as any movie does, which a pre-credit scene introducing each character. Throughout the show, it focuses on the themes of friendship, the pressures of belonging, and tackling serious issues and conversations.
Now, I will speak on the cast individually because there is so much good from each performer, but them together as an ensemble just clicks. All performers have great projection and diction, not to mention full of emotion. The energy that radiated from each actor was clear, they put 110% into their roles. Cumberland Theatre is known for bringing in the best people for the role and this show is proof of that, every character perfectly cast.
Chicklet (Colin Dech) is a young girl who wants to fit in and learn how to surf, even though her overprotective mother is against it. While trying to find herself, she struggles with her own identity, and Dech plays this role with an impressive balance of vulnerability and comedy. Even with the complexities of the role, they make the character relatable.
The weird best friend character can never be missed, and that character is Berdine, played by Kiersten Gasemy. Gasemy fully embraces the big, quirky personality of Berdine. She perfectly blends humor and sincerity, making Berdine much more than just a comic relief. Even if you find her odd, Gasemy’s energy makes you just want to root for her the entire time.
James Camacho plays the wise surfer Kanaka, who I would call the anchor of the show. Camacho plays the role calmly, bringing a steady deep breath to the chaotic, fast paced show. He brought a warmth and authenticity to Kanaka that I feel is special to the role, one that I think many would miss when playing the role.
Star Cat (Brian Records) is the definition of a character that’s more than meets the eye. The stereotypical surfer heartthrob has so many layers revealing throughout the show, which you have to watch to see. Records brings a charm to his humor, showing he is no stranger to the stage.
No beach movie is complete without the mean girl of the story, which in this show is Marvel Ann (Emily Snyder). Her strong stage presence commands the audience every time she speaks. I’ve seen Snyder is several “mean girl” roles and she commits every time, giving that confidence and flair to her performance.
The surfer duo of Provoloney (Andrew Watkins) and YoYo (Jace Courrier) have a comedic chemistry that I could only describe as “Dumb and Dumber”. You would think you took these two right out of the screen of a 1960’s beach movie and threw them on stage. Their comedic timing with each other and in general is on point, their energy makes the audience smile every time they step on stage.
The famous and big personality of movie star Bettina Barnes is played by Lisa Podulka. This role requires a performer who can match the over-the-top personality of Bettina, and Podulka succeeds in that. Her attention to character work stands out, giving a strong physicality and voice to Bettina. This is the first time I’ve seen Podulka perform and I’d love to see her on stage again in the future.
Playing Chicklet’s overprotective mother Mrs. Forrest is Jennifer Hope. Mrs. Forrest tries to do her best to protect her daughter, even though it causes a lot of conflict. Hope, while playing the fierce side perfectly, makes sure to show the audience the love and care she has for her daughter. Being a conflict of the main character and still being likable is a skill, and Hope has it.
One thing that really struck me as awesome is that in every show, there is a cameo from a local business owner or community member. While only in for a scene, the role is memorable. At the show I watched, I got the pleasure of seeing Aaron Hamilton on stage. You may know him as owner and operator or Mad Hatter Boba Emporium and Chicago Market Gallery, both located in Downtown Cumberland.
Onto the direction of the show, When you see the name Kimberli Rowley next to the title of Director, you know you're in for a production that fully commits to its vision. Rowley embraces the show's parody style and larger-than-life characters while ensuring the comedy never overshadows the story. The result is a production that feels energetic, cohesive, and entertaining from beginning to end. One huge standout is the fun scene transitions where the characters entertain through the entire set change. It not only gives comedy, but keeps the transitions quick and smooth.
High praise to all the technical aspects of this production. The Sound Design, done by Rowley, adds such a layer of comedy to the already hilarious show with music and sound effects. The atmosphere is perfectly shown by the lighting design done by Xander Mulder, telling exactly what time of day it is on the beach. The Set, also designed by Rowley and built by Steven Zalatoris, accurately depicts a beach in those 1960’s movies. The floor of the stage looks like sand; the dock and rocks give heights and depth to the set.
The costumes were designed by Jennifer Clark, whose work I personally always love to see. She constantly tells a story for each character with each piece of clothing and accessories she picks. Projections were designed and created by Marty Jellison, which added more onto the movie inspiration of the show. These projections were fun and showed the hard work done to make them. Props were coordinated by the Stage Management Team and each prop fits into each scene with ease.
No show can run without the fabulous crew behind the scenes making it all happen. Marcus Hardinger serves as the Stage Manager of this show, running every aspect like a pro. Assistant Stage Manager is Rowan Dickson, making the show happen from behind the wings. In the booth operating the sound and light boards is Sean Besecker and Lili Ashenfelter, hitting every cue perfectly at the SM’s call.
Looking to take a time machine back to the 60’s? Sitting in the front seat of your car at the drive-in to see a movie? Then you better get a good seat for this weekend.
Psycho Beach Party runs for its 2nd and LAST weekend this Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm at the Cumberland Theatre. You can get tickets when you arrive or ahead of time at cumberlandtheatre.com. BE AWARE this show contains adult language and sexual innuendos.
Photo by Perk Hull Design
