WHAT IF?
Ellafrankie Productions and Kritzerland Entertainment’s have a new wrinkle for their latest presentation. Here’s the setup. You’re about to open a new production and you suddenly get word that you can’t get the rights for the show! You try another production, and discover that someone else is doing the show – so now that you have a theatre, a piano man and five thespians chomping at the bit to strut their stuff, whatever do you do?
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You do a musical review! That’s what
everyone else does when they can’t think of anything else!
The final question is "a review of what?" After much
quibbling and bickering the actors get the idea to do a "what
if" scenario.
What if someone else had written the great shows of Broadway? Like for instance, what if Bock and Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof) had written A Chorus Line? |
| So off they go into a couple of hours of pure fun, where some of the best-loved songs of Broadway really get worked over. The famous number from Fiddler where the ensemble sings about "Tradition" is juxtapositioned over a line of dancers who sing a lament about "Audition!" (at least it rhymes). Sweeny Todd is an absolute knockout using Stubby Kay's "Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat" from Guys and Dolls when it translates to, "Sit Down – I’m slitting your throat!" | |
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Then the actors take over in what will become the most reviewed scene of the entire production. "Laugh riot" does not begin to do it justice
Susanne Blakeslee of Forbidden Hollywood fame is her same wonderful self, hoofing and singing some great lyrics to plastic surgery, in A Little Lift. Beautiful Tammy Minoff adds her perky talents and honey voiced Alet Taylor, wows everyone with "When You’re Waiting for Love", a darkly comic love lament. Most lyrics were adapted or invented by Director Bruce Kimmel who keeps the pace at high gear
Paul Haber’s rendition of Millions of Men captures a special mood, but you have to see him in the Sweeny spoof! He’s great! Ryan Raftery's terrific mature voice belies his youth. As a comic foil, he’s tops, trying to sing his favorite "Don’t Rain on My Parade", which keeps getting interrupted by everyone else. Maybe they carried this bit a little too far, but it was funny the first two times!
Ok, so The West Side Story spoof missed – especially when they sing about Bernardo being Mexican – just because it rhymes better than Puerto Rican, it’s pushing poetic license a bit! Tammy Minoff is so pretty, few will notice that she tends to sing around the notes, being a little "pitchy" once in a while, as the folks in American Idol tend to say. However, the excellent piano work by Jose C. Simbulan keeps things pretty much in tune, and the cast looks great in Amy Adams’ costumes
The fun continues through September 18, 2004. Call (323) 960-7784 for information.
Click Here for an Interview of Susan Blakeslee by Don Grigware
Comments? Write to us at: Letters@ReviewPlays.com
The production team includes: Jose C. Simbulan
(Musical Director); Cheryl Baxter and Joseph R. McKee (Choreographers);
Eddie Adams (Assistant Director); Jessica Bowen (Associate Producer);
Melissa Ficociello (Set Designer); Amy Adams (Costume Designer); Steven
Pope (Lighting Designer), Doug Haverty (Graphic Design); Dale Alan Cook
(Stage Manager) and Steve Moyer Public Relations (Press Agent).
Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. through September 25, 2004.
General Admission tickets for all performances during the Limited Run are $20.00 each; tickets for members of AEA, SAG, AFTRA, Seniors and Students are $15.00 each, and can be secured by mentioning code 007 when making reservations.
The 24/7-phone number for the Automated Box Office is
323-960-7784. The running time for "What If?" A Musical Revue is 110
minutes. The theatre is wheelchair accessible and has concessions. Secured
Parking is available or patrons can park on streets nearby the theatre.
For
further information about "What If?" A Musical Revue, and to make reservations online, please visit the website,
www.Plays411.com/whatif .
