The Wild Party @ The Secret Theatre

[duray]

Posted: 7/25/12 at 9:57pm

The bad news  there are only four performances left to see The Secret Theaters production of Lippa's The Wild Party. The good news, you have five chances to see an extraordinary performance that provides both a thoughtful and erotic experience. The accomplished cast captures the atmosphere of the 1920s with a minimalistic set consisting at times of only a toilet and bathtub!
Based on a poem from the roaring 20s that was banned in Boston The Wild Party focuses on the putrefying love affair between Queenie (Courtney Glass) and Burrs (Keith Collins) a vaudeville clown. Queenie is a Marilyn Monroe-esque sultry blond who puts up with rough treatment from Burrrs, but does not exactly know why. Many of us may relate to this fatal attraction scenario. The perfect way to get back at him occurs to her: they'll throw a party, a wild wild party loud enough to raise the roof and disturb the neighbors. She suggests the idea to Burrs and he jumps at it.
The partiers are introduced including hookers, a fighter, a lesbian, a minor, two wonderfully entertaining gay guys, a mute dancer and other assorted party goers. I was particularly impressed with Nadine, the minor (Erica Lindblad) whose mannerisms were spot-on. The antagonist Kate (Missy Dowse) and the absurdly handsome Black (Adam Kemmerer) creates a four sided drama leading to an unexpected climax
The director, Taryn Turney, keeps the majority of the cast onstage most of the time, creating bits of character development among the secondary guests (an attempted seduction here, whispered nothings there, some gay kisses in between) through pantomime in darkness during primary scenes performed by the leads.
The whole ensemble gives an impeccable performance; there is almost no spoken dialog. The score is expertly performed a four person group under the direction of Dror Baitel. A performance that is every bit as good as anything on Broadway  see it!!

The Wild Party