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The Musicals of Musicals: The Musical!
Music by Eric Rockwell
Lyrics by Joanne Bogart
Book by Eric Rockwell & Joanne Bogart
Directed by Bill Jenkins
Choreographed by Bob Kiser
At Noble Fool Theatricals
Pheasant Run Resort
4051 E. Main St.
St. Charles, IL
Call 630-584-6342, tickets $27 - $37 (with dinner packages available)
Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 95 minutes with intermission
Through July 31, 2007
Funny, polished parody of Broadway icons a fine musical
Genius comes in many forms and veteran musical theater actors Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell have written a most compelling parody of five Broadway composers. Their show, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical, the 2003 Off-Broadway hit spoofs Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and John Kander & Fred Ebb in a five scene musical tribute. The clever show has songs that easily remind us of the songs and shows from each composer. From “Oh, What Beautiful Corn,” (obvious reference), we both admire and laugh the cute parody of the legendary composers. All the greats get their due in a smartly slick, fast moving show rich in terrific performances from the five performers.
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Tom Clear, the pianist and narrator sets the tone with his winning charm. His stellar piano accompaniment underscores the show. Tom Taylorson is the leading man while Mick Houlahan covers the villains and Catherine Lord plays the divas and mature women leaving Leah Morrow to be the ingénue and younger starlet. Each of these tremendous talents had their moments rendering the various vocal styles and periods offered in each composer’s works. I especially like the work from Leah Morrow, whose bright eyes, comic instincts and vocal chops complemented the ensemble nicely. Morrow is a recent Columbia College graduate and someone destined for stardom.
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Taylorson, Lord and Houlahan offer slickly funny performances that carry the show. Tom Clear anchors the musical and keeps the audience involved. Broadway musical lovers will rejoice in this gentle parody that never offends but gently spooks the genius of the Broadway composers. If you tune in to the lyrics, you’ll hear references to many musicals, show tunes and styles as well as knocks on Broadway divas and over-the-top characters. This tuneful and entertaining show is so clever that it needs to be seen more than once simply to experience all the references, pokes and jabs.
This production has all the elements of a tremendous show: witty lyrics and music, excellent subject matter, fine production values played by five talented performers. It is musical to be savored like a fine wine. This Midwest Premiere is worth the ride out to the Western burbs. Kudos to Nobel Fool Theatricals for selecting this winner.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2007
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