Rapid laughs

stuck written and performed by Christel Bartelse and Christina Sicoli, directed by Michael Kennard. Presentd by the Burnt Marshmallows at the Space (489 Dupont). July 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 at 8 pm, July 4, 8, 10 and 12 at 9:30 pm, July 6 at 3:30 pm, July 13 at 2 pm.

a couple of weeks ago, the burnt Marshmallows almost became a congealed mess of soggy goo.

While up north at director Mike Kennard’s (from Mump and Smoot) cottage, the comedy duo unknowingly kayaked into class-five rapids.

“I thought we were dead, and I was thinking, ‘Please, I’m only 24, and I have a show to do,’” says Christina Sicoli, the shorter, more mischievous of the two. “When the boat went down I felt like saying to Christel, ‘Have a nice solo show!’”

Sounds like a routine the clown- and improv-trained pair might dream up for one of their solid shows. Only it’s true. Bandaged and bruised, they’re going ahead with their highly physical show.

“We have one piece where we were supposed to be crawling on our knees, but we’re changing the staging,” says Bartelse. “We just can’t do that.”

The duo are used to adapting to change. They nearly got booted out of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts because they weren’t strong enough singers. Their catchy name came about because they kept feeling burnt. They survived, even though they didn’t get to perform in the school’s big musical.

“Since graduating, though, we’re the only two out there doing stuff,” smiles Sicoli.

Stuck marks the Marshmallows’ fourth full-length show.

“All the pieces are about ways of getting unstuck,” says Bartelse. “We have people stuck in traffic, in the past, in debt.”

And will there be a sketch about being stuck in the rapids?

“No,” says Bartelse. “But Mike’s encouraged us to incorporate that look we gave each other before we both went down. If you look carefully, it’ll be there.” GS