Published: Friday, April 29, 2011
'Iron' a campy Commie comedy, comrade
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Jay Koh
Nick DeSantis (Yengenyi Onanov) and members of the company in "Iron Curtain."
Stephen Weiner was right when he said that the Soviet Union can be funny.
Oh, yes. It can be absurdly, refreshingly funny.
Weiner is a member of the creative team behind the new musical, "Iron Curtain," produced by the Village Theatre and opening April 29 at the Everett Performing Arts Center.
This is a you-don't-want-to-miss-it musical that weaves a fabulous fabric of funniness that will wrap you in comedy and campy goodness and has a musical score that packs a wallop.
Weiner created the music, Susan DiLallo wrote the book, and Peter Mills crafted the lyrics for "Iron Curtain." These three, along with remarkable direction and choreography by Steve Tomkins and Kristin Culp, created a stunning original show that will renew your zest for musical theater.
You will find yourself awkwardly on the side of the Soviets, who are certainly the sad underdogs here as their state-sponsored musicals turn out as bland as boiled potatoes.
The plot of "Iron Curtain" reveals that the Soviets seem to have written the worst musical ever. But because it's the 1950s and Broadway is hot with successful musicals, the Soviets decide that the Cold War isn't going to stop them from cultural success.
So they head to Manhattan and find two down-and-out musical theater writers, desperate for work but not desperate enough to go to Moscow. They are kidnapped and persuaded -- let's say there's a hammer and sickle over their heads -- to fix this musical mess.
That premise launches a series of farcical events that at times reach a Laurel and Hardy hilarity but go beyond because, in this case, the two heroes can also sing and dance.
The score for "Iron Curtain" is rich with variety, from razzmatazz songs such as "The Ministry of Musical Persuasion" and "If Not for Musicals," to lovely ballads such as "Missing" and "Half a World Away," stunningly delivered by Village Theatre veterans Matt Wolfe and Carolyn Magoon.
Wolfe plays Howard Katz, the curmudgeonly half of the musical writing duo of Katz and Murray Finkel, played charmingly by Jared Michael Brown, making his Village Theatre mainstage debut.
The cast for this show is a golden blend of Village Theatre veterans and newcomers that shines, with a standout performance by veteran Nick DeSantis, whose grasp of physical comedy is inspired.
"Iron Curtain" opens at 8 tonight at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. Shows are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 p.m. on selected Sundays through May 22.
Tickets start at $35. Call 425-257-8600 or go to www.villagetheatre.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Oh, yes. It can be absurdly, refreshingly funny.
Weiner is a member of the creative team behind the new musical, "Iron Curtain," produced by the Village Theatre and opening April 29 at the Everett Performing Arts Center.
This is a you-don't-want-to-miss-it musical that weaves a fabulous fabric of funniness that will wrap you in comedy and campy goodness and has a musical score that packs a wallop.
Weiner created the music, Susan DiLallo wrote the book, and Peter Mills crafted the lyrics for "Iron Curtain." These three, along with remarkable direction and choreography by Steve Tomkins and Kristin Culp, created a stunning original show that will renew your zest for musical theater.
You will find yourself awkwardly on the side of the Soviets, who are certainly the sad underdogs here as their state-sponsored musicals turn out as bland as boiled potatoes.
The plot of "Iron Curtain" reveals that the Soviets seem to have written the worst musical ever. But because it's the 1950s and Broadway is hot with successful musicals, the Soviets decide that the Cold War isn't going to stop them from cultural success.
So they head to Manhattan and find two down-and-out musical theater writers, desperate for work but not desperate enough to go to Moscow. They are kidnapped and persuaded -- let's say there's a hammer and sickle over their heads -- to fix this musical mess.
That premise launches a series of farcical events that at times reach a Laurel and Hardy hilarity but go beyond because, in this case, the two heroes can also sing and dance.
The score for "Iron Curtain" is rich with variety, from razzmatazz songs such as "The Ministry of Musical Persuasion" and "If Not for Musicals," to lovely ballads such as "Missing" and "Half a World Away," stunningly delivered by Village Theatre veterans Matt Wolfe and Carolyn Magoon.
Wolfe plays Howard Katz, the curmudgeonly half of the musical writing duo of Katz and Murray Finkel, played charmingly by Jared Michael Brown, making his Village Theatre mainstage debut.
The cast for this show is a golden blend of Village Theatre veterans and newcomers that shines, with a standout performance by veteran Nick DeSantis, whose grasp of physical comedy is inspired.
"Iron Curtain" opens at 8 tonight at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. Shows are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 p.m. on selected Sundays through May 22.
Tickets start at $35. Call 425-257-8600 or go to www.villagetheatre.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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