Encore performance of Musical Theatre Guild's WILD PARTY

[McClintock]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 10:00am

[eslgr8]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 11:15am

Here's my review of the June 6 production:
Julia Murney’s Queenie may be a hard act to follow, but the extraordinary Tami Tappan Damiano proved herself every bit up to the challenge as she triumphed in Musical Theater Guild’s one-night-only “concert staged reading” of Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party at the Alex Theatre in Glendale tonight.
“Staged reading” cannot begin to describe this miraculously almost fully staged production, directed by the brilliant Nick DeGruccio and choreographed by the always stunning Lee Martino. Equity rules may insist that actors carry scripts, but since this musical is almost sung-through, rules were bent quite a bit tonight as the divine Tami T.D. performed almost entirely off book! (And the entire production was mounted (per Equity rules) with only about 2 dozen hours of rehearsal.)
Tami Tappan Damiano is a truly marvelous singer and actress. I’d seen her as “herself” in the Charles Strouse benefit concert two weeks ago. I scarcely recognized her tonight as she transformed herself into the tragically self-destructive Queenie. What a rich and powerfully expressive voice! Her renditions of Out of the Blue, Maybe I Like It This Way, and How Did We Come To This were among the dozen plus numbers receiving extended cheers from the dazzled audience.
Her co-stars were more than up to the challenge of performing opposite her. Eric Anderson was sensational as Burrs, Misty Cotton dynamic and sexy as Kate, and David Engel sang perfectly and ignited the stage as Black.
And then there was the supporting cast! Beth Malone an adorably funny Madeline True on a quest for a perfect Lesbian Love Story; Sam Zeller and Jennie Fahn as the comically mismatched pugilist Eddie and his “two-feet-shorter” girlfriend Mae; oh so cute Jeffrey Christopher Todd and Joseph Sark as gay lovers Oscar and Phil; and superlative dancers Shell Bauman and Yvette Tucker. The entire cast deserves mention: Brandon Alameda, Kristi Holden, Richard Israel, Bets Malone, and Larry Raben had smaller parts but did them sublimely.
The orgy scene had me gasping!
I sat next to two a couple who’d seen the LaChiusa version in New York and were astounded at how much “better” this one was. I’m not sure if “better” is the word; I’ll have more to say on that after seeing LaChiusa’s this summer. But try as I might, I just can’t get into M J L’s (for me overly) complex and discordant music. On the other hand, Lippa’s songs are each and everyone a showstopper; he has created a truly memorable score.
The entire ensemble of tonight’s performance deserves credit for their professionalism, total commitment to the project, and the truly amazing results of their labors. This is what pros can accomplish!

[Sheri]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 12:08pm

Wow - glad they're having an encore performance of this! I'm so sad though that I will only be in LA until the 18th! How I would've loved to have seen this!

[hedwig14]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 12:16pm

Wow, thanks so much for posting this McClintock, I have been wanting to see a production of this show forever. Also, as always, it's great to read your review eslgr8.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 12:21pm

I have much trouble believing there's a woman names "Misty Cotton". I know she exists. I saw her in MISS SAIGON many years ago.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 7/5/05 at 5:04pm

And it's her real name!!!