Sweet Clone of Mine: A Neil Diamond Experiment
“Space Croutons” Takes the Stage!
It wasn’t a hot August night (it was March in Minnesota), but the talented actors and the awesome band that make up the cast of “Sweet Clone of Mine” jumped on the live performance wagon anyway to give an appreciative audience a first look at what science fiction crossed with a pop music icon in concert looks like.
The story came from the “Space Croutons” podcast about a Neil Diamond clone who doesn’t know he’s a clone and what happens when the lab tech who ‘grew’ him in the laboratory comes to help him escape before he’s forcefully ’retired’ for good after his nightly performance in residency at the Bitter End nightclub (where Neil got his start all those years ago).
The Hive Collaborative in St Paul, Minnesota, run by Eric and Laura Rudolph Morris, produced a compelling and entertaining mix of music (‘Neil’ does an eight song set with a rockin’ band to start the evening) with a ‘Twilight Zone’ kind of cautionary play about cloning, artificial intelligence and the big businesses that see a ‘golden ticket’ to line their pockets for a long time after the performers themselves are no longer able to do their thing.
Neil was played by podcast co-creator Jeff Goodson and Leslie (the lab tech with a heart of gold) was played by Abbi Fern, both familiar actors on twin cities stages. The top-notch musicians were Janessa Iverson (Bass, Piano and vocals) and Kyle Simons Baker (Rhythm, lead and electric guitar).
This is the first time a Space Croutons episode has been presented in a live visual setting and the writers, director and actors have expanded the story and added a great selection of ND songs to get the ball rolling and tug at the heart in the end. If there are plans for more live episodes in the works, the world will be a better place for it.
Below is a video recording of the show for those interested. If you want to listen to the original audio episode, look for Space Croutons Season 4 Episode 6 (the show is now in its 6th season) wherever you find the podcast. Also attached is a review of the show from the Stages of Minnesota Stages of Minnesota Review.
And keep your eyes open for more opportunities to see “Space Croutons” live in the future!
Click here for the original episode. Season 4 Episode 6: Sweet Clone of Mine
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