Manoa Valley Theatre
Lance Wheeler plays the Phantom and Kathleen
Stuart is Ethel Merman in "Forbidden
Broadway Strikes Back."
‘Forbidden Broadway’
By John Berger
is a slam dunk
Special to the Star-BulletinHERE'S a show that exceeds the promise of its preopening publicity! Manoa Valley Theatre's "Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back" has everything: excellent material, superb cast, astute direction, crisp choreography, flawless technical support. What a triumph!
It isn't necessary to be a drama maven or Broadway junkie to be thoroughly entertained by Gerard Alessandrini's perfect dissection of contemporary American theater. MVT director/choreographer Brad Powell and a marvelous cast bring this slash-and-burn revue to vibrant life.
"FBSB" gleefully skewers much of what is taken for granted by theaterphiles. The high-powered commercialism and souvenir hawking that surround "Miss Saigon," "Phantom," "Les Miz" and "Cats" are shredded early as Lance Rae stars in "Cameron Mackintosh." The sketch is one of a prodigious series of brilliant comedic performances by Rae.
"The Phantom Meets Merman" rips the modern expedient of substituting technology for basic vocal skills. Merman (Kathleen Stuart) comes out of the audience to give Broadway's most popular psychopathic stalker (Lance Corey Wheeler) a few lessons on stage presence and voice projection. The premise is brilliant and the execution is dead-on - even if some youngsters have no clue of Merman's role in American theater.
"Grease" is trashed to perfection as "not the worst show you could do" but certainly a schlocky refuge for second-rate talent and washed-up celebrities in need of employment. Rae and Lesley Bianca Alexander appear as the junk-monger producers of the show. Suzanne Boyd is hilarious as Sally Struthers. Boyd's body-slamming of "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee" is a great piece of satire. The versatile Boyd is hitting new career highs with her work here.
Alexander and Wheeler deconstruct the revival of "The King and I." Boyd and Rae explore the outcome of casting Liza Minelli and Jerry Lewis as the leads in "Kiss Me Kate." Alexander and Wheeler administer a welcome coup de grace to all present and future rehashes of "Guys and Dolls."
"A Fe-Line" demolishes "Cats" and "A Chorus Line" in a single segment as desperate actors in cat costumes dance their way through a cattle call.
It's not necessary to know anything about Patti LuPone to get the point of "Patti Class." Nor is it necessary to know the details of Julie Andrews' feud with the Tony Awards clique to catch what's happening in "Julie's Hot."
The only dramatic lull comes with a lengthy segment ripping "Rent." This will drag for anyone unfamiliar with the show and its media-chic hype.
Director/choreographer Powell does an award-worthy job. Darren Hochstedler (set/lighting), Ronald Perry (sound), John Starr Alexander (musical direction), Alex Torres (costumes), and Jess Aki and Kathy Kamakaiwi (wigs and makeup) all add key elements to the show.
Anyone with a love of Broadway musicals and/or an appreciation of satirical comedy should be sure to see this show.
Stage review
What: "Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back"
John Berger has covered the
local entertainment scene since 1972.
