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Dynamic duo: Michael Breen and David
Rafailedes star in their play about the
highly-publicized breakup of injury
attorneys Cellino and Barnes, at the
Bell House on Aug. 3. Andrew Breen
Stage breakup
Play explores the world of Cellino and Barnes
COURIER L 24-7 IFE, AUG. 2-8, 2019 49
By Kevin Duggan Talk about courtroom drama!
A new play portrays the
shocking falling out between
New York’s most iconic pair of injury
attorneys: Cellino and Barnes. “Cellino
v. Barnes,” which will play to a soldout
crowd at the Bell House on Aug. 3,
offers a quirky, comedic take on the feud
between law firm partners Ross Cellino
and Steve Barnes, known across the state
for their omnipresent ad with its catchy
jingle , according to one of its writers.
“The guys are kind of like an urban
legend in New York — if you mention
them people sing the jingle right back to
you,” said David Rafailedes, who also
stars as Barnes in the play.
When the legal eagles had their highly
publicized break up, Rafailedes and his
co-star Michael Breen realized that,
despite their fame, the buddy barristers
were shrouded in mystery — which made
it easy to adapt their legal drama for the
stage.
“Everybody knows who they are but
we know nothing about them,” Breen
said. “It’s great if you’re writing, it’s
almost like fan fiction.”
The two writers invented a comic plot
to explain how the pair came to hate hate
hate, hate hate hate hate each other. The
characters in the two-man show are based
on advertisements and news reports, with
Barnes portrayed as the hard-working
and serious half of the team, based on an
ad where the real lawyer gave a detailed
explanation of a specific medical case —
versus the fun-loving Cellino, sourced from
reports of Barnes calling his partner lazy.
Members of the real Cellino’s family
have enjoyed previous productions of the
play at Park Slope’s Union Hall and in
the firm’s upstate hometown of Buffalo,
according to Breen, and Cellino himself
has expressed interest in coming. In
contrast, Barnes has no interest in the
show — which seems appropriate,
according to Breen.
“There’s a quote from Barnes in the
Buffalo News that plays aren’t really his
thing, which is the most Barnes thing
ever,” he said.
The show at the Bell House may be
sold out, but fortunately for fans of the
injured attorneys, the performers hope to
make it a regular production somewhere
in New York.
“We’re looking for a more permanent
home for the show,” Breen said.
“We’re confident we’re going to do it
again — we’re just ironing out the details,”
Rafailedes said.
“Cellino v. Barnes” at the Bell House
149 Seventh St., between Second and Third
avenues in Gowanus, (718) 643–6510,
www.thebellhouseny.com. Aug. 3 at 7:30
p.m. Sold out.
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