Golden Charm of Marco Island Hits Home with Local References

“The Golden Charm of Marco Island” hit home with a flurry of humorous spoofs about life on Marco Island in its opening night performance at the Marco Island Historical Society’s Rose Auditorium.

Of course, a highlight of any lecture or performance at Rose Auditorium is the opportunity to appreciate the collection of high-quality local history-themed original artwork that graces its walls.

Inside the auditorium walls, the audience enjoyed Mitch Eil’s original play that centers around a gold version of Marco Island’s most famous artifact, the Key Marco Cat. The play marks the debut of Shark Eye Theater Company—named after the popular seashell found on Marco Beach.

The Key Marco Cat, a part feline, part human woodcarving, came from Frank Hamilton Cushing’s excavation on Marco Island in 1896. The real Key Marco Cat, by the way, is currently on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum, along with many other artifacts from Cushing’s famous excavation.

Eil’s play begins with Cushing (Don Manley) in failing health, expressing to his wife Emily (Emery Pulse) his desire to return to Marco Island to find more artifacts. Some may remember Manley for his stirring portrayal of Morgan Freeman’s character in the Marco Player’s performance of “Driving Miss Daisy.” 

While Manley appears only in the opening scenes, Pulse returns to the stage several more times as Joan Taylor, an archeology expert, whose appearance is reminiscent of a female heroine from the original “Batman” television series.

Gregg Birr also takes on two roles, of Cushing collaborator Wells Sawyer and later as art collector Harold Rifkin, who covets the golden Key Marco Cat.

After the opening scenes, the play fast-forwards to modern-day Marco for the balance of the performance.

Eil does a nice job of interspersing historical tidbits and humorous observations of the idiosyncrasies of life on Marco Island throughout the play.

The play’s plot revolves around a modern-day murder that involves the golden cat.

Characters move on and off of the small stage throughout the play, poking fun of Marco Island life at almost every turn. The play’s sets were cleverly constructed by Bill Beebe and Jack Bird, using a barn door style method of changing several simple backdrops.

Much of the play features Dan Paradise (Greg Madera), a relocated midwestern police officer working as a private detective on the island. Madera shares several scenes with Officer Tommy Spinelli (Ty Szumigala), who does a pretty convincing job of imitating a Marco Island Police Officer.

In one scene, Officer Spinelli enforces an ordinance that prohibits shirtless men from being too far removed from the pool or beach. Tubby Kaye nails the role of a shirtless islander hanging around the Seashell Cafe.

Other foils, who keep Paradise on his toes, are the apparently wealthy Claire Farnsworth (Kay Mayr) and her eccentric nephew Kenny (Michael Peter). Mahr’s polished performance reflects the fact that she’s been on stage since age 5. Her chemistry with Peter provides a number of compelling moments. Peter’s portrayal of Kenny showcases the actor’s unique comedic flair.

Christi Lueck-Sadiq plays Rose, a divorcee raising her young son as a waitress on the island. Rose, a go-between in the botched sale of the golden cat, develops a romantic interest in detective Paradise, who also plays a divorcee.

Overall, the audience seemed to enjoy the play—especially its clever social commentary on modern-day Marco Island.