By Harriet Diamond

The Godfadda Workout, opening June 30 at Bally’s Palace theatre is a must see. Actor Seth Isler and co-producer/director Susan Jane Sullivan incorporated 37 Godfather characters into numerous vignettes to create this hilarious show 14 years ago. Isler and Sullivan regularly tweak their masterpiece, graciously and gleefully accepting ideas from friends, relatives, and audiences. The Goddfadda Workout is finally coming to NJ where “the Family” and their entourage of friends and enemies will feel at home.

During a recent media preview, watching Isler perform two scenes with two to four Godfather characters, we could easily forget that only one actor commanded the stage. His seamless changes in voice, appearance, and location (you have to see this last for yourself) kept the audience engaged and laughing.

The preview scenes were followed by a Q and A that let audience members get to know more about Isler, Sullivan, and the show’s history. We learned about Isler’s ongoing Godfather trivia competition with Richard Belzer and an invitation to perform the show at Francis Ford Coppola’s home. When asked what took so long to get the show to NJ, Isler replied, “I had been trying for 14 years but kept making U-turns.” Isler added, “We’re lucky to be here. This is our crowd.” And we, New Jerseyans, definitely are!

The Palace Theatre is a charming, intimate venue. The views are great from the orchestra section to the cozy booths.

The icing on the cake was an invitation to another preview following the show: the opening of the The Burger Bar at Preview on Bally’s 6th floor. The menu includes a delicious array of burgers and appetizers accompanied by classic cocktails and microbeers. The ambiance feeds into the Goddfadda theme. The reception gave us a chance to talk with Isler and Sullivan and catch their enthusiasm for their NJ engagement.

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