Lippa's "The Wild Party" in Dallas

[The Goat]

Posted: 10/13/04 at 1:26pm

I'm in Dallas on business and visiting friends and we all went out a few nights ago to see a local production of Lippa's "The Wild Party." Now I was one of those who never really took to this when it was done off-Broadway, but this production made a believer out of me. It was in a small theatre and every available nook and cranny was used to make the audience (at least those in the front rows and on the aisles) seem as if they were part of the party. The cast, direction and choreography were top notch--the latter, considering the big cast and small space, got some real excitement going on! The Queenie was great both musically and dramatically, and there were many stand outs in the rest of the cast. "Old-Fashioned Lesbian Love Story" stopped the show here in a way I don't recall it doing in the off-Broadway version, and the second half of the show seemed as compelling as the first, which I did not feel was the case in the off-Broadway production. I still defend the LaChusia version (if done with no intermission), but I am now a fan of both "Wild Parties"--neither perfect, but both with their great moments.