VERY FUNNY TAKE ON BROADWAY CLASSICS IS TERRIFIC AND FORBIDDEN
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| Jill Gould as Carol Channing
OMG I love that Show! is a fact with their new rendition of the Fringe hit FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. Tony winners and some flops take a riff, as our favorite show tunes get a great re take in the hands of writer Gerard Alessandrini. “This show is a love letter to that wonderful American art form of musical theatre” says co-directors Ryan Cowles and Derek Travis Collard. The two also add their own very clever shtick and take on some classic bits from Broadway.
Gemma Bulos as Annie
I would guess that some Broadway icons would be insulted if their show was left out of this skewered fun. Cowles assembled a talented group of locals who all have a string of their own hits to be part of this funny clever show. Gemma Bulos, a charm as Eponine snaps a selfie of herself in the extended “Le Miz” bit as she sings “on my phone”. Michael Doppe with his classic voice works the crowd as one of the Monkeys from "Wicked". Jill Gould is the best Mary Poppins as this romp takes down a Disney classic. The brilliant Derek Travis Collard appeared in the cast the night I saw this, he was the pretentious narrator from “Into the Woods”
Broadway hero Producer Cameron Mackintosh is taken to task, both with his Le Miz and Phantom get very clever take offs. Cowles makes the famous turntable set of the original Le Miz an important part of the funny as his actors struggle to stay on the set. The lighting design very simple but well done by Eric Johnson is the key to visual fun in “One Day More”. The FORBIDDEN set is just one piece, lighted curtain for the team to enter in their many costumes and become the color of the show. Cowles wearing many hats for this production brings some easy to recognize flash to his actors look on stage. I found myself giggling as the sight of some of the costumes, knowing their shtick to follow.
This version is all very current, with a viscous take of NBC’s 'Sound of Music". With the miss cast country Carrie Underwood version of Maria Von Trapp, played so well by Jill Gould. This satirical two hours has no boundaries and hardy any shame, and its perfect.
Diva Idina Menzel is not left out of the fun, “Adele Dazeem” makes her mark played perfect by Kathryn Hart, as she powerhouses “Let it Blow” from Frozen. Later Dazeem returns with her monkey and broom to fly into “Wicked”.
Some classics are easy to make us smile, like Michael Doppe as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”, “A Chorus Line”, “Dolly” and “Music Man”. So ironic, on a stage a few feet from this black box show, is a huge CCMT production of Music Man taking place above the cast of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. Did those “River city” vibes work their way upstairs.
Kathryn Fox Hart as Liza Minnelli
Of course not all made it to the Walnut Creek black box fun, "Book of Mormon" was missing and Pippin didn't make the cut. But not really missed as “The Lion King” riff was classic ridiculous and a hilarious mention of the heavy headed costumes that crossed to some “Cats” looking on from yet another Mackintosh parody. RENT also makes the song list and Gemma Bulos as the homeless lady steals the parody of “Season of Love”.
The six member cast is a charm of talent, not one of them misses a beat. Cowles keeps his cast moving with some cute song and dance gigs. I need to mention Kathy Hart return to many of the parodies, her best as Liza Minnelli . Matt Smart is the one man orchestra and music director, and at times it was great to just see him play and mix his Broadway tunes
I did have my FORBIDDEN favorites, Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno battle for the right to “Westside Story - America”. Along with Ethel Merman battle with The Phantom vs using a microphone to project featuring Jill Gould and very funny Chris Olson. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 2015 is a high octane flashmob of amusing high end camp, and not a drag queen in the group.
The cast self y
Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits
The Roast of Broadway
April 17 to May -3rd, 2015
OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT SHOW
Tickets 35.00 - 925-943-7469.
AT THE LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Tickets 35.00 - 925-943-7469.
AT THE LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Photo Credit: Tom Deans-Flegel
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