Peas in a Podcast

A jocular radio drama for the iPod age

by Deni Kasrel

Earlier this month, Karen Getz, Grace Gonglewski and David Witz wrapped up recording sessions for Martha & Dotty: Microwave Mambo, set to debut at this year's Fringe Festival. Asked if they could reveal the premise without giving it all away, Witz responded, "I could tell you the entire plot and it wouldn't be giving it away: Martha saves the world!"

Martha is the titular character of the trio's prior Fringe show, The Many Men of Martha Manning, a podcast play that, like Microwave Mambo, is a parody of 1950s radio dramas. Gonglewski reprises her role as the prim, proper yet incredibly resourceful Martha, and she is aided and abetted by her faithful sidekick, Dotty, voiced by Getz. Dotty's distinct manner of speech — a combination of Yiddish, Hebrew, French and German, among other languages — is a made-up hodgepodge, but Getz assures: "None of it is gibberish." Careful listeners may discern something especially humorous about Dotty-speak. As Getz says, "You can grab a word or two and think, 'Whoa, did she just say what I think she said?' She's being naughty."

Per her original "stereosonic adventure," Gonglewski's mellifluous Martha remains unshaken when she travels from Pepper Pickle, Pa., to assorted places to rescue her husband, Bill (who has been kidnapped) while also foiling the plans of the evil scientist Volvod Fronsczak. The bickering Schvinkel sisters return, as do various other characters voiced by local players on the theater and radio scene, including Jennifer Childs and Jim Nettleton. While the convoluted plot and over-the-top dialogue offer great fun, so does the evocative sound design, crafted by Larry Freedman. "Everyone listens through their iPod," says Gonglewski. "You have a world that shuts out everything else and enters your imagination aurally."

For fans of radio programs such as Garrison Keillor's Guy Noir, Microwave Mambo has a familiar ring. Still, this jocular confection is its own thing, and is more layered than may first appear. "Well, who wants to listen to it just once?" Witz asks.

Presented by Brat Productions, Microwave Mambo will be available in six episodes, downloadable for 99 cents apiece, from iTunes, marthamanning.org, and the soon-to-be-launched marthaanddotty.com.

(d_kasrel@citypaper.net)