MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSICAL)

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Review By Kathy Carpenter

Now Playing: Feb. 20--27 at 8 p.m., Feb..28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m,, and March 1 at 2p.m.
Experimental Theatre SDSU: Tickets $18-$20; ticket info:(619) 594-6884 or theatre.sdsu.edu

Musical of Musicals, with music by Eric Rockwell and lyrics by Joanne Bogart, is a delight for all fans of musical theatre.

This Musical, or I should say its five Musical vignettes, all share the same theme: You must pay the rent! But I can't pay the rent! Leary of how a basic plot like this could be entertaining, I was totally surprised.

Each vignette used the same names for the main characters.in different settings. However, each scene used different actors and actresses to portray the leads, doing a wonderful job of showcasing the talent of the whole cast of six women and 5 men.

The show starts off with guest lecturer Rick Simas. The cast eventually pushes him aside to put on a musical to show, not tell, the history of great musical composers--although Rick does get to impart some musical history on us throughout the play.

The first vignette showcases Rogers & Hammerstein. Each mini-musical is a spoof using some original lyrics , combined lyrics of two or more songs, and some songs comprised of totally new lyrics set to familiar tunes.

The other composers featured are Stephen Soundheim, (Sweeny Todd, Into the Woods, A Little night Music), Andrew Lloyd Webber, ( Joseph and the Tecnicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, Evita, Phatom of the Opera ), Jerry Herman, ( Hello Dolly, Mame, La Cage aus Follies), John Kander, & Fred EBB ( Caberet, Chicago,Kiss of the Spiderwoman).

The first Musical had me laughing out loud. In the following ones, I enjoyed all my favorite musicals over and over. Although the costumes and sets are simple, you are there in each setting. Treat yourself to all ofyour favorite musical all at once, and have fun trying to pick out which part of each vignette goes to which original musical.

Arrive early this--this is a small theatre and it was sold out.


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